A delivery driver who played a key role in smuggling £3.5 million worth of drugs across the Bradford District has been sentenced to six years in prison. James Howell, 36, of Bradford, was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court on Thursday, 12 June, after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis.
Between February and July 2024, Howell used his delivery job as cover to transport more than 30 kilograms of Class A and B drugs throughout Bradford. The drugs, which were imported from the United States by organised criminals, were sent via postal services to various addresses in Bradford before being collected and distributed by Howell.
The smuggling operation was uncovered through a joint investigation involving the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Howell was identified and arrested in July 2024, appearing before Bradford Magistrates Court shortly thereafter.
Detective Inspector David Greenwood of the Yorkshire and Humber ROCU commented, “Howell thought his job as a courier would provide the perfect cover, but he was swiftly identified and arrested through ongoing police enquiries. This case serves as a warning to other delivery drivers tempted by easy money.”
He added, “We extend our thanks to the Department of Homeland Security and the DEA for their crucial support. Our operations continue daily to target organised drug networks, both locally and internationally.”
13 June 2025
