WIREDGOV

Three men who were part of an organised crime group involved in supplying heroin to Birmingham and Bristol have been jailed for a total of 22 years.

Dervish Dervish, 49, of Hertford Road, Enfield was found guilty of conspiring to possess class A drugs with intent to supply and money laundering charges on 20 September 2013 following a trial.

Atif Latif, 27, of Albert Road, Aston was also found guilty of money laundering.

Nizakat Hussain, 21, of Albert Road, Aston pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess a controlled drug with intent to supply and money laundering.

On Thursday 28 November a Judge at Birmingham Crown Court sentenced Dervish to 13 years in prison, while Latif and Hussain were handed three-and-a-half year and six year sentences respectively.

The National Crime Agency’s Bristol Branch Commander Peter Smith said:

“This organised crime group was one of the key suppliers of heroin to the Birmingham and Bristol areas, with extensive contacts abroad in the Netherlands, Turkey and Pakistan.

“The investigation into this network was extremely complex and took a great deal of time and effort.

“We have worked closely with a number of police forces, including Avon & Somerset, Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire, West Midlands and Zephyr, the south west regional organised crime unit. That co-operation has so-far led to the conviction of thirteen individuals linked to this crime group.

“Working with our law enforcement colleagues we are determined to tackle the organised crime groups responsible for bringing illegal drugs onto our streets and devastating our communities.”

The investigation uncovered links between the organised crime group and Dervish Dervish’s textile company based in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire.

In May 2011 investigators witnessed Nazabat Hussain, Nizakat’s brother, visit Dervish’s business premises in a van. Not realising officers were watching his every move, he left the premises and headed towards the M25. A short time later Hertfordshire Police officers stopped the van and seized almost 13 kilos of heroin.

He was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison.

Three months later, another member of the group, REDACTED, 23, of REDACTED, Bristol, was arrested by Gloucestershire Police on the M5 after officers seized five kilos of heroin.

Officers searching a flat rented by REDACTED in Staple Hill, Bristol, discovered a “hub” for drug distribution, including repackaging equipment, hydraulic presses and other drug paraphernalia.

Further forensic analysis showed Nizakat Hussain’s DNA and fingerprints on a number of items in the flat.

REDACTED was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison.

Nizakat Hussain and Atif Latif were later arrested in Heston, west London 

The NCA’s Peter Smith added:

“The NCA’s financial investigation continues and we will now seek to use the Proceeds of Crime Act to strip them of their criminal assets.”