LONDON: A UK court has jailed eight-member Birmingham drugs gang for more than 138 years in jail for conspired to smuggle up to £19 million of heroin, British state media reported.
The drug traffickers include seven British citizens of Pakistani origin and one from India. The crooks had hid the drugs inside industrial machinery shipped from Lahore, but were arrested following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
According to the media, the gang leaders Ameran Zeb Khan, 38; Mohammed Ali, 36; and Sajid Hussain, 32; were sentenced to 22 years each.
Other key players involved in the smuggling include Omar Isa, 36, Imran Arif, 35, Mohammed Ashaf Khan, 49, Rajesh Patel, 52, and Zulfikar Munsaf, 38.
The NCA said the seized heroin, which the group planned to sell on in bulk, had a purity of 58 per cent and was worth £5 million uncut.
THE SENTENCES:
Ameran Zeb Khan, 38, Cobham Road, Bordesley Green – 22 years;
Mohammed Ali, 37, Wyndcliff Road, Bordesley Green – 22 years;
Sajid Hussain, 32, Fieldhouse Road, Yardley – 22 years;
Mohammed Ashaf Khan, 49, The Leverretts, Handsworth – 17.5 years;
Omar Isa, 35, Chipperfield Road, Castle Bromwich – 15.5 years;
Zulfgar Munsaf, 38, Bellefield Road, Winson Green – 14 years;
Imran Arif, 35, Kenelm Road, Small Heath – 10 years;
Rajesh Patel, 52, Chesham, Buckinghamshire – 15.5 years.
