Drug-dealing gang jailed for total of more than 80 years

A gang of 14 who exploited children to supply drugs across Leicestershire have been jailed.

A police investigation into the people behind the Miz, Mr Pink and Panda drugs lines uncovered a complex operation that involved instructing teenagers to deal drugs on the county’s streets.

It was identified that 30-year-old Takavada Zinyoro was head of the lines, supported by Mohammad Abdur, 26 – also known as Mohammad Rakib.

Working alongside him to control the Panda line was Sakib Shah, 24 and 22-year-old Aqib Shah, while the products were prepared by Huzaifa Lorgat, 26. Farhan Choudhury – aged 22 – was employed to transport the gang’s principal members.

Thirty-two-year-old Sian Warner was responsible for recruiting and harbouring children to deal drugs across the three lines.

Also acting as runners were Michael Price, 48, Shazad Khan, 46, Darryl Lawrence, 27, Luke Donnelly, 25, Jade Knowles, 28, Travis Webb, 25 and Asraful Uddin, 23.

In early December last year officers from Leicestershire Police – supported by colleagues from West Midlands Police and British Transport Police – executed warrants at more than 20 addresses in Leicester, Loughborough and the West Midlands.

During the enforcement officers recovered several thousands of pounds worth of cash and Class A drugs with a street value of more than £100,000.

Today (Friday 29 November) at Leicester Crown Court:

• Abdur, of Grafton Road, Loughborough was sentenced to a total of six years and three months. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, possessing class B drugs with intent to supply and being concerned in supplying class A drugs. These offences occurred between March and December 2023
• Sakib Shah, of Sparrow Hill, Loughborough was sentenced to 11 years and four months. He pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs between February and December 2023, hold a person in slavery or servitude between June and August 2023, arrange or facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation in June 2023 and two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs between March and December 2023
• Aqib Shah, of Sparrow Hill, Loughborough was sentenced to 10 years and four months. He pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs between February and December 2023, hold a person in slavery or servitude between June and August 2023, arrange or facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation in June 2023 and two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs between March and December 2023
• Zinyoro, of Haddon Way, Loughborough was sentenced to 10 years. He pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs between March and December 2023, two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs in March 2023. He was found guilty of holding a person in slavery and servitude in March 2023 and arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation in March 2023
• Lorgat, of Dorothy Road, Leicester was sentenced to five years and six months. He pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs between March and December 2023.
• Choudhury, of Wharncliffe Road, Loughborough was sentenced to seven years. He was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs between February and December 2023, two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs between March and December 2023 and arrange or facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation in June 2023

Meanwhile Warner, of HMP Peterborough, was sentenced to two years and three months, having pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation in June 2023 and two counts of being the occupier of a premises knowingly permitting or suffering supply of a controlled drug between February and December 2023.

Also in today’s hearing:

• Price, of School Street, Loughborough was sentenced to six years and nine months. He pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs between March and December 2023
• Khan, of Grange Road, West Bromwich was sentenced to five years. He pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs between March and December 2023
• Donnelly, of Darby End Road, Netherton, Dudley was sentenced to four years and six months. He pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs between March and December 2023
• Knowles, of Pinfold Gate, Loughborough, was sentenced to three years and six months. She pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs between March and December 2023
• Webb, of HM YOI Peterborough, was sentenced to three years and nine months. He pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs between February and December 2023 and arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation in June 2023
• Uddin, of Nottingham Road, Loughborough, was sentenced to five years. He pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs between March and December 2023
• Lawrence, of Old Meeting Street, West Bromwich, was sentenced to two years, suspended for 24 months. He pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs between March and December 2023

First row - Left to right: Aqib Shah, Asraful Uddin, Farhan Choudhury

Second row - Left to right: Huzaifa Lorgat, Jade Knowles, Luke Donnelly

Third row - Left to right: Michael Price, Mohammad Abdur, Sakib Shah

Fouth row - Left to right: Shazad Khan, Sian Warner, Takavada Zinyoro, Travis Webb

Detective Inspector Jason Fell was the Senior Investigating Officer. He said: “This was a deeply concerning case, namely because the gang were willing to exploit young people to sell drugs. They were only interested in one thing – their own financial gain.

“As the investigation progressed, it became clear there was a hierarchy in place and as things progressed we could see the operational chain from top to bottom. In Leicestershire, it’s the first time offenders have been charged with conspiracy to supply offences and crimes relating to the exploitation of children in the same case.

“The force takes child criminal exploitation extremely seriously and launched the Are You Listening? campaign to educate adults on how to spot the signs of CCE.

“This operation was supported by Home Office surge funding, via the National County Lines Coordination Centre. While I hope today’s outcome provides some reassurance to our communities that we are working to bring those responsible to justice, I would encourage anyone who thinks someone they know is being exploited to contact police.”