Four sentenced for roles in running West Midlands drugs line
The group used dedicated 'line phones' to broadcast bulk adverts - offering deals such as "4 for £25", and "spend £100 get a free deal".
Four people have been sentenced for their roles in the running of the 'Ace' drugs line in the West Midlands.
Mohammed Butt, Ishaaq Shazad, Mohammed Asim and Samantha Scott were all sentenced on Wednesday (1 July) at Birmingham Crown Court.
The County Lines Taskforce (CLTF) at West Midlands Police launched an investigation into the Ace line and found that the drug line was operating between late 2023 to February 2024.
The drug line operated out of Birmingham, supplying Class A drugs including crack-cocaine and heroin into Stourbridge, where most of the drug-dealing took place.
CLTF officers found that these four people had their individual roles. Butt was found to have a significant leading role, Shazad and Asim were next in line with significant roles, while Scott was lowest on the chain as the drugs runner.
The group used dedicated 'line phones' to broadcast bulk adverts - offering deals such as "4 for £25", and "spend £100 get a free deal".
They would then co-ordinate same-day deliveries via the runner and a driver.
Investigators went through evidence such as bulk messaging, and CCTV trawls, as part of the case.
On 15 February 2024, they were all arrested for drugs offences at multiple addresses, where police recovered large amounts of drugs and cash, along with mobile phones linked to drug dealing.
Hundreds of grams of drugs were recovered including heroin and crack-cocaine. Over £65,000 in cash was also seized.
All four entered guilty pleas to being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine.
Shazad also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and possession of heroin with intent to supply. On Wednesday, they were handed the following sentences:
- Butt, 34, of no fixed address, was jailed for eight years and six months.
- Shazad, 36, of Lingard Road, Sutton Coldfield, was jailed for six years and six months.
- Asim, 34, of Colonial Road, Birmingham, was jailed for three years and six months.
- Scott, 30, of Palfrey Road, Wollaston, was handed a two-year suspended sentence.
Det Sergeant Adam Buzzard, from the CLTF, said: "This was a significant investigation into what was a highly active drugs line.
"All four had their individual roles in the running of the drugs line. But, thanks to our investigative work, we were able to attribute them to their roles and following searches of addresses we located large amounts of cash and drugs, along with mobile phones for the drugs line."