wmlro.com: industrialisation of illicit drugs business
When details of a drugs case emerged in a UK case, it became clear that the criminals conducted business on a highly industrialised scale.
The gang imported heroin into the north of England. Then the raw product was taken to "bash houses" or factories in Birmingham and Bradford.
When the factories were raided, hydraulic presses, face masks, industrial blender and other machinery plus caffeine powder in bulk was seized.
Although several defendants pleaded not guilty, some pleaded guilty at the outset and others changed their plea to guilty after the trial opened.
Heads of two criminal gangs pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Import Heroin:
John Ryder aged 39 of Alamein Road, Bilston, Wolverhampton, sentenced to
24 years, a Serious Crime Prevention Order and a Travel Restriction were
also imposed
Mohammad Nazir aged 31 of Park Road Prestwich Manchester, sentenced to
26 years, a Serious Crime Prevention Order and a Travel Restriction were
also imposed
Other gang members:
Daniel Hayes, aged 42 of Compton Road West, Wolverhampton sentenced to
13 years nine months after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Import Heroin
Christopher Cobby aged 39 of South Terrace, Newcastle-under-Lyme
sentenced to 14 years
Karl Edwards aged 33 of Silverton Way, Wolverhampton sentenced to 13
years nine months after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Supply Heroin.
Three stood trial:
Abid Sabir aged 25 of Cowley Crescent Bradford, sentenced to 24 years
Sayedur Rahman aged 25 of Lupton Street Bradford sentenced to 16 years
Wajid Sabir aged 29 of Cowley Crescent Bradford sentenced to 20 years
The result is important for the sentences imposed are particularly long: sentences of 20 years and longer are very rare in the UK.
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