Luton drug gang jailed for almost 100 years after the largest ever seizure of cocaine in Bedfordshire

A Luton organised crime gang who ran a multi-million pound drugs supply business have been jailed for almost 100 years, following the largest ever seizure of cocaine in the county.
Luton chicken shopLuton chicken shop
Luton chicken shop

The six men from Luton, who were described by the judge as ‘peddlers of misery’, sold Class A drugs to criminal gangs across the UK for onward distribution.

They were arrested last year following a proactive surveillance operation by officers from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU).

When officers arrested the couriers of the group, 45 kilograms of import grade cocaine, with a street value of almost £5 million, was seized.

Mohammed Aakil, Mohammad Waqas and Mohammad Irfan Khan were found guiltyMohammed Aakil, Mohammad Waqas and Mohammad Irfan Khan were found guilty
Mohammed Aakil, Mohammad Waqas and Mohammad Irfan Khan were found guilty

Mohammed Waqas, 29, of Shervington Grove, and Mohammed Irfan Khan, 35, of Dunstable Road, who both had leading roles within the group, were both jailed for 25 years today (Monday).

Mohammed Aakil, 39, of Plait Court, and Rumel Hussain, 32, of Crawley Road, who were both couriers within the group and responsible for ferrying drugs from one location to another, will face 18 and 10 years in prison respectively, following the hearing at Luton Crown Court.

During the sentencing the judge, His Honour Judge Foster, said: “Those who deal drugs can expect little mercy from the criminal justice system… you are all peddlers of misery and between you, you pedalled a massive amount of cocaine.”

Two other men, Manzor Bhuiyan, 31, of Guernsey Close, and Shaheriz Khan, 37, from Sherwood Road, each received a 10 year prison sentence earlier this year for their involvement in the drugs supply business.

Shaheriz Khan, Rumel Hussain and Manzor BhuiyanShaheriz Khan, Rumel Hussain and Manzor Bhuiyan
Shaheriz Khan, Rumel Hussain and Manzor Bhuiyan

ERSOU Detective Inspector Trevor Davidson said: “This well-established and dangerous organised crime group was operating a wholesale drugs supply network at the very top end, dealing in multi-kilogram batches of import quality cocaine.

“We’re really pleased that the group will now be spending such a lengthy amount of time behind bars and we hope this sends a strong message to other organised crime groups operating across the eastern region who think they can operate above the law.

“We’re committed to tackling the importation and supply of Class A drugs across the eastern region and will continue to use our specialist capabilities to ensure groups such as this are brought to justice.”