Drug-dealing brothers who ran a criminal network in Bolton have been jailed for more than a quarter of a century.

Asif Khan and his brother Zia Khan headed an organised criminal network responsible for the supply and distribution of drugs across Greater Manchester.

Today, the brothers have been jailed following an operation by Greater Manchester Police.

Asif Khan, aged 34, of Rosamond Street, Bolton, was convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs following a trial.

Zia Khan, aged 40, of Westbourne Avenue, Bolton, was convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs following a trial.

Asif Khan was sentenced to 16 years in prison and Zia Khan to 10 years in prison at Bolton Crown Court.

The brothers ran a criminal network that employed couriers to move the drugs and 'store men' who would store, mix and distribute drugs on their behalf.

On Tuesday 16 July 2013, officers stopped three cars on Kincardine Road, Ardwick, and made a number of arrests.

From the boot of one of the cars, a black Toyota Corolla, officers three cardboard boxes later found to be more than £42,000 worth of cannabis.

The men arrested were couriers, working on behalf of Asif Khan who was controlling the deal.

On Friday 30 August 2013, a man - Adil Khan - was seen leaving a house in the Haliwell area of Bolton with an envelope containing wrappings used to package Class A drugs.

He was arrested by officers, who subsequently searched the house on Eastbank Street.

Officers found a shoebox containing 12 bags of white powder, later forensically tested and revealed to be a kilo of cocaine with a street value of more than £140,000.

Inquiries later established the Khan brothers were controlling the activities of Adil Khan and were responsible for instructing Khan to cut, weigh and measure cocaine on their behalf.

Adil Khan was sentenced to eight years imprisonment in February 2014 for his role in the conspiracy. Two other men were sentenced to two-and-a-half years and 10 months respectively earlier this year for their roles in the conspiracy.

Detective Constable Ian Graham, from GMP's Serious Organised Crime Group, said: "The Khan brothers ran this criminal network, and were responsible for the day-to-day activities of their 'couriers' and 'store men' who would either store or move the drugs on their behalf.

"They had no wish to get their hands dirty, but their control over this drug-dealing network was undeniable.

"They used Eastbank Street as safe haven for drugs under their control, and following Adil Khan's arrest they arranged for a locksmith to gain entry to the property so they could check the whereabouts of their drugs.

"To have convicted these brothers means we have dismantled the day-to-day operations of this organised criminal network and in doing so disrupted the supply of drugs onto the streets of our communities.

"I would like to commend all the officers who have worked tirelessly on this investigation which began back in November 2012. It has been a complex investigation but thanks to the painstaking work and dedication of the officers involved, we have identified the Khans who sat at the very top of the tree controlling these drug deals, jailed these brothers for a very long time and undoubtedly made a huge dent into the supply of drugs in Greater Manchester."