Six more drug dealers taken off the streets

Six men from an organised crime group have been taken from the streets and sentenced to more than 44 years in prison between them.

This follows a huge covert operation spanning two years which saw over 50 people arrested.

Detective Inspector Lee Hunt, from East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) said:  “Drugs destroy lives and communities and through this operation we have taken down a large organised crime group who didn’t care about the impact of selling drugs.

"Last week four individuals received substantial prison sentences and yesterday another two were sentenced for the part they played in a much bigger operation and it is only through the tenacity of detectives from EMSOU."

In the summer of 2019 officers from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) arrested more than 50 people involved in the supply and distribution of class A drugs.

In 2020 three of the main offenders were convicted and sentenced to substantial terms in jail.

On Monday (14 June) Florian Isufaj was found guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.  He was found guilty of conspiracy to supply class B drugs in February last year.

Nasser Wade-Akhtar was found guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.  He had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B drugs at a hearing in 2019.

Isufaj and Wade-Akhtar were identified as members of an organised crime group in Nottingham who were supplying cocaine and cannabis to an organised crime group in Leicester.  

Last week four more members of the gang were jailed after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine after a four-week trial at Leicester Crown Court in May.

Ashley Sharp was identified as the organiser of the supply.  Benjamin Miller was known as Sharp’s right-hand man, who took delivery of the cocaine for onward sale.

Philip Warren was another customer who bought cocaine and used Richard Elton as his courier.  Elton also prepared the cocaine for onward sale.

During the course of EMSOU’s covert operation into the organised crime group they uncovered evidence which provided information on how far and wide their supply business operated.

When the individuals were arrested their mobile phones were seized and images of the drugs and cash (pictured) were found on their devices.

They were sentenced as follows: -

• Isufaj, 35, formerly of Charlbury Road, Nottingham, was sentenced to nine years and 10 months in prison.
• Wade-Akhtar, 41, formerly of Bobbers Mill Road, Nottingham, was sentenced to six years and four months in prison.
• Sharp, 27, formerly of Forest Road, Markfield, Leicester, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison.
• Miller, 29, formerly of Walpole Court, Leicester, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison.
• Warren, 39, formerly of Hinckley Road, Leicester, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison.
• Elton, 46, formerly of Rancliffe Crescent, Leicester, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison.

EMSOU Detective Inspector Lee Hunt continued:

“Those convicted ran a business-like operation and they all had a key role to play in the supply of controlled drugs onto the streets. 

“Enforcement in 2019 saw us execute more than 50 warrants across the county, as well as in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Liverpool. More than 50 people were arrested during the operation. 

“This was a significant operation for us but our work doesn’t end here. We know the supply of controlled drugs is a never-ending battle and there is always someone waiting to fill the gap left by others.

“Our efforts to stop the misuse of drugs will continue and we will carry out further operations of this nature to disrupt the criminal activity.”