WIREDGOV

A man who supplied dangerous weapons to the drug-dealing head of a Birmingham-based crime group has today been jailed for more than 10 years.

Rizwan Malik, 43 of Small Heath, supplied crime boss Danyal Aziz with three Walther Creed 9mm self-loading, semi-automatic pistols, via one of his associates Michael Earp. Malik was jailed today after a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Aziz’s group was responsible for flooding the West Midlands and other areas across the UK with multi-kilo quantities of class A drugs (heroin and cocaine) in 2020.

Malik was directed via Encrochat, an encrypted communications network used by criminals, to attend an address at Sapphire Heights, Hockley, which the organised crime group used as a base, to hand over three pistols in April 2020.

CCTV footage captured Malik arriving in his van and meeting with Michael Earp, to undertake the transfer of the firearms.

Aziz was sentenced to 33 years in prison in October 2023 for charges which included possessing the three Walther Creed weapons with intent to endanger life. This was based on evidence which showed his willingness to use the weapons to protect his lucrative drug dealing business and intimidate his rivals, should the need arise.

Two of Aziz’s associates, Michael Earp, 35 from Shard End, and Nicole Rhone, 32 from Bordesley Green, were sentenced at the same time – Earp to 26 years for drugs and firearms offences and Rhone to 5 years for firearms offences. The gang was also in possession of other lethal weapons including a Skorpion submachine gun which was found stashed under the bed of Rhone.

These cases arose as a result of Operation Venetic, a wider NCA-led investigation into encrypted EncroChat conversations, whereby messages from devices linked to organised crime groups were uncovered.

Giorgina Venturella, Specialist Prosecutor from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Malik put lethal weapons into the hands of an organised criminal, Danyal Aziz, who was fully prepared to use them.  This could have had potentially catastrophic consequences for innocent members of the public.

“The 33 years handed down to Aziz in 2023 reflected the severity of his crimes and the corrosive damage that drugs and violence can do in our communities. Malik has now similarly brought to justice and jailed for 10 years and three months.

“He played an integral role in the whole enterprise, handing this criminal group the means to threaten and intimidate rivals and customers alike, which was an intrinsic part of their operating model.

“The CPS is committed to working with investigators like the National Crime Agency to disrupt organised gang crimes who bring harm to our communities.”

Rick Mackenzie, operations manager at the National Crime Agency, said: “Rizwan Malik played a vital role in this dangerous gang’s criminal activities and he didn’t hesitate in assisting them in delivering deadly firearms.

“Malik and his associates thought they were untraceable by using Encrochat to discuss and organise their crimes. They were wrong. The use of the encrypted phone system meant NCA officers were able to link them to their offending.

“The NCA will continue to protect the public from serious and organised crime and pursue criminals trading in lethal firearms which have a devastating impact on our communities.”

Notes to editors

• Giorgina Venturella is a Specialist Prosecutor for CPS’s Serious Economic Organised Crime and International Directorate
• The CPS has recently launched new strategies to underpin how the organisation responds to serious organised crime and international threats for the rest of the decade. You can read them on our website
• Rizwan Malik, DOB 11.7.82 of Charles Road, Small Heath was found guilty of: 
  • One count of possessing firearms with intent to endanger life contrary to section 16 of the Firearms Act 1968
  • One count of possessing prohibited firearms, contrary to section 5(1)(aba) of the Firearms Act 1968
  • One charge of concealing criminal property contrary to section 327(a) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002