Drug gang exploited children in major county lines operation

Two brothers are among gang members who exploited children to run a major drug supply line across Leicestershire and the West Midlands. The group, who have been jailed for a combined more than 80 years behind bars, were "only interested in one thing" according to police - "their own financial gain".

The gang involved 14 people who operated in the running of the Miz, Mr Pink and Panda drug lines. Between February and December 2023, they used teenagers to deal drugs on the streets of Leicester and Loughborough.

A major police operation in early December saw officers from Leicestershire Police, supported by West Midlands Police and British Transport Police, raid more than 20 addresses across the region. The raids recovered several thousands of pounds worth of cash and Class A drugs with a street value of more than £100,000.

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Thirteen members of the gang were given lengthy prison terms at Leicester Crown Court yesterday (November 29). The longest was handed to Loughborough's Sakib Shah who was given an 11-year and four-month jail sentence after pleading guilty to drug supply charges and holding a person in slavery.

Shah's brother Aqib Shah was jailed for 10 years and four months for similar offences, while Takavada Zinyoro - who was head of the county lines - was sentenced to 10 years after being found guilty of slavery offences and admitting drug supply charges.

The operation also involved several runners, including Michael Price, 48, Shazad Khan, 46, and others who received sentences ranging from two to seven years. Detective Inspector Jason Fell, who led the investigation, said it marked the first time in Leicestershire that offenders had been charged with both conspiracy to supply offences and crimes relating to child exploitation in the same case.

"This was a deeply concerning case, namely because the gang were willing to exploit young people to sell drugs," he said. "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," he added.

The full list of those jailed at Leicester Crown Court are:

Mohammad Abdur, 26, of Grafton Road, Loughborough

• Sentence: 6 years and 3 months

• Plea: 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 between March and December 2023

Sakib Shah, 24, of Sparrow Hill, Loughborough

• Sentence: 11 years and 4 months

• Plea: Pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, holding a person in slavery or servitude, arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation, and two further counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between February and December 2023

Aqib Shah, 22, of Sparrow Hill, Loughborough

• Sentence: 10 years and 4 months

• Plea: Pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, holding a person in slavery or servitude, arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation, and two further counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between February and December 2023

Takavada Zinyoro, 30, of Haddon Way, Loughborough

• Sentence: 10 years

• Plea: Pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. Found guilty of holding a person in slavery and servitude, and arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation, all in 2023

Huzaifa Lorgat, 26, of Dorothy Road, Leicester

• Sentence: 5 years and 6 months

• Plea: Pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between March and December 2023

Farhan Choudhury, 22, of Wharncliffe Road, Loughborough

• Sentence: 7 years

• Plea: Found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation between February and December 2023

Sian Warner, 32, of HMP Peterborough

• Sentence: 2 years and 3 months

• Plea: Pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation, and two counts of permitting or suffering the supply of a controlled drug

Michael Price, 48, of School Street, Loughborough

• Sentence: 6 years and 9 months

• Plea: Pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between March and December 2023

Shazad Khan, 46, of Grange Road, West Bromwich

• Sentence: 5 years

• Plea: Pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between March and December 2023

Luke Donnelly, 25, of Darby End Road, Netherton, Dudley

• Sentence: 4 years and 6 months

• Plea: Pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between March and December 2023

Jade Knowles, 28, of Pinfold Gate, Loughborough

• Sentence: 3 years and 6 months

• Plea: Pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between March and December 2023

Travis Webb, 25, of HM YOI Peterborough

• Sentence: 3 years and 9 months

• Plea: Pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation in June 2023

Asraful Uddin, 23, of Nottingham Road, Loughborough

• Sentence: 5 years

• Plea: Pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between March and December 2023

Darryl Lawrence, 27, of Old Meeting Street, West Bromwich

• Sentence: 2 years (suspended for 24 months)

• Plea: Pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between March and December 2023

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