Walsall drug dealers whose Class A empire stretched across the country jailed
The founders of a countrywide drug dealing operation based in Walsall have been jailed for nearly eight years after admitting supplying everyone from local addicts to national kingpins.
Caldmore brothers Mohammed, 28, and Muzambil Iqbal, 21, with Adeeb Zubair ran a drugs line called 'Pablo' in Walsall whilst selling bulk batches of Class A drugs to dealers across the country.
The trio were arrested on December 5, 2023 in Walsall and were caught with crack cocaine and diamorphine, which is used in the production of heroin.
They had been running the Pablo line since September 2022 raking in thousands of pounds a week working round the clock to satisfy their customers demand.
The Iqbal brothers, of Farm Street, and Zubair, 21, from Lichfield Street, Walsall, swapped cars and mobile phones regularly to prevent attracting the attention of law enforcement.
However, due the reach and scale of their distribution network they were subsequently followed by West Midlands Police surveillance units and arrested.
After being charged they were prohibited from contacting each whilst on bail on electronic tag after being released from remand. However, despite awaiting trial the lure of easy money proved too tempting and they returned to drug dealing.
In mitigation, the court heard all three pleaded guilty to possessing class A drugs with intent to supply negating the need for a trial. However, their sentencing was delayed due to the backlog in the court system. The delay in justice also meant the defendants could move on with their lives as they awaited sentencing.
They sold kilos of Class A drugs when active and the kingpins will be the subject of a Proceeds of Crime Prosecution Act investigation in the coming months.
On Tuesday Judge Laura Hobson KC jailed Muhammed for 55 months and Zubair for 43 months at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
She said: "This was a straightforward matter of the sale of Class A drugs through a drugs phone line, in this case the Pablo line used in and around Walsall for several years.
"You Mohammed was in charge of the operation and expected to make considerable profit from the enterprise. You ensured there was a regular supply of the drugs to your customers with the help of Zubair."
"You were selling kilos of Class A drugs both at street level and wholesale where you would drive all over the country making connections.
"This case falls into two different sentencing guidelines categories as there is street dealing to individual addicts and the sale of larger amounts of drugs to other dealers."
Addressing Muzambil, she said: "You were recruited to drive the drugs to customers which was a lower level role in the organisation but you did this to make money.
"However, due to your age and the length of time you waited for this case to be concluded and the impact on your family, I have decided to suspend your sentence."
The younger Iqbal was given a 23 month sentence, suspended for 18, and required to attend 20 rehabilitation days and undertake 200 hours of unpaid work.