Aberystwyth drug gang sentenced after raid

An organised crime gang that flooded a city with drugs worth more than £400,000 has been convicted.

Swansea Crown Court heard the gang had set up “sham businesses” such as car washes and a hair salon to conceal their criminal enterprise in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion.

All defendants had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit drug trafficking or had been convicted at trial.

Toana Ahmad, 33, of Lee Gardens, Smethwick, West Midlands, received the longest prison sentence of 12 years.

The court heard that the gang's leaders sent recruits from across the UK to Aberystwyth to traffic cocaine and cannabis.

Prosecutor Ian Wright said the gang ran a “sophisticated, well-organised and evolving operation”.

The court heard that the operation was led by 33-year-old Ahmad along with two men identified by police who are currently on the run.

The gang was eventually broken up following a major investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police codenamed “Operation Burleigh.”

The court heard that significant quantities of cocaine and cannabis were seized, as well as cash and weapons, including knives, an axe and air guns.

It was also said that the axe was found hanging on a coat hook in the hallway of one of the gang's safe houses.

Judge Geraint Walters described Class A drugs as a “disgrace” to the coastal and university community of Aberystwyth.

He added that each of the defendants played their respective roles in the conspiracy “actively and enthusiastically.”

Barzan Sarhan, 31, and Ahmed Piro, 26, both of no fixed address and also convicted in the trial, were each sentenced to four years in prison.

Karwan Karim, 39, of Griffith John Street, Dyfatty, Swansea, pleaded guilty on the third day of his trial but was given no reduction in his guilty plea and was also sentenced to four years' imprisonment.

Walid Younis Abdal, 34, of St Anne's Road, Doncaster, Daban Khalil, 23, of Streetly Road, Erdington, Birmingham, and Kastro Omar, 30, of Junction Road, Northampton, all pleaded guilty and were each sentenced to three years in prison.

Muhammed Hamasharif, 27, of no fixed abode, and Saman Aziz, 41, of Kirk Road, Liverpool, also pleaded guilty and were each sentenced to three years in prison.

Luqman Jarjis, 21, of Wake Green Road, Birmingham, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years and three months in prison, while Adel Mustafa, 39, of Hubert Road, Newport, was sentenced to three years and four months.

Akasha Smith, 24, of Third Avenue, Aberystwyth, who also pleaded guilty, was sentenced to two and a half years.

Charlotte Roberts, 21, of Sutton Hill, Telford, Shropshire, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to attend a rehabilitation course.