Ex-shopkeeper's double life as drug lord exposed after M6 stop

The crook was stopped in an Audi A4 near junction 37 of the M6
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


A shopkeeper turned property tycoon's secret life as a drug lord has been revealed after he was apprehended by police on the M6.

Islaam Bashir was found with 25kg of cannabis, valued at a minimum of £250,000 when he was stopped by officers. Known as Izzy, Bashir was travelling north with the stash, intending to distribute it to customers in the west of Scotland.

The 32-year-old was intercepted in an Audi A4 near junction 37 of the M6 in Cumbria on July 4. He was joined by his mate and co-conspirator Andrew McQuade, 32.

READ MORE: The county lines kingpin who sat in his prison cell shipping heroin and cocaine from Manchester to Cumbria

Both men have confessed their roles in the crime and are due to be sentenced next month, the Daily Record reports. They were both remanded in custody pending sentence.

During an initial hearing in front of a district judge sitting in Barrow, court papers alleged that Bashir and McQuade were in possession of 25kg of cannabis with intent to supply the class B controlled drug to others. A second charge alleged that Bashir alone had custody or control of a quantity of £20 notes bearing the same serial number which he "knew or believed to be a counterfeit".

No pleas were entered by either man at that magistrates' court hearing. When brought before Carlisle Crown Court on August 5, Bashir and McQuade both admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

Bashir pleaded not guilty to the charge alleging the possession of counterfeit currency. In light of his guilty plea to the cannabis supply charge, the prosecution offered no evidence on the counterfeit currency allegation.

Bashir and McQuade, both of Kilmarnock, had their case adjourned. They are due to return to Carlisle Crown Court to receive their respective punishments on October 16.

It was also revealed Bashir has been linked with companies involved in a series of property deals in the past two years, snapping up six units for more than £1million.

A source told the Record: "He ran a convenience store in Kilmarnock with his brother and they sold it on last year. He has been involved in businesses that have been buying shops, pubs and public buildings, including units that were left empty after previous tenants' businesses were sunk by lockdown.

"He was looking to get the properties for a song, with a view to developing small businesses on them or selling them on."

The source added: "Bashir's conviction is likely to bring scrutiny on how exactly he has been making and spending his cash."

Subscribe to our daily newsletter LANCS LIVE NEWS and get all the biggest stories from across Lancashire direct to your inbox