Pubdate: Sat, 01 Feb 2014
Source: Burton Mail (UK)
Copyright: 2014 Staffordshire Newspapers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5027
Author: Rob Smyth

COPS AIM TO KEEP STREETS DRUG FREE

AS the dust settles on the conclusion of Burton's biggest ever 
operation to tackle drug dealing, police chiefs are now moving to 
recover UKP700,000 worth of assets gained through criminal pursuits.

Chief inspector Steve Maskrey, East Staffordshire local policing team 
commander, spoke to the Mail after the final defendant, Mohammed 
Aziz, was sentenced to four years at Stafford Crown Court - meaning 
that a total of 41 criminals had been before judges and handed a 
total of 93 years and four months in jail for flooding the streets of 
the town with drugs.

The police chief looked back on the dawn raids, which saw hundreds of 
police officers and staff provide an unwanted wake up call to 
criminals across the town at the start of last year, and also the 
work undertaken since then to continue the clampdown on crime in the area.

He said: "Operation Nemesis was very much an undercover operation 
which spanned a period of nine months during 2012.

"This culminated in a highly visible enforcement phase in the first 
three months of 2013 and a total of forty one defendants were 
arrested, charged and ultimately convicted of drug offences.

"The offences included the supply of class A and B controlled drugs 
namely; heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine and cannabis.

"As a result of the thorough and painstaking work of detectives and 
police staff the operation produced evidence of the highest standard 
which resulted in all defendants being convicted.

"Substantial custodial sentences were given to the most significant 
members of organised crime groups identified during the course of the 
operation.

"The longest sentence received was 11 years."

This was handed to Mohammad Najib, who was outed as the 'kingpin' of 
the Burton drug operation.

It emerged that during a 10 month period a phone operated by Najib 
and his two sons Mohamed Kase and Mohammad Muddassar (who were jailed 
for more than 10 years for their part in the drugs empire) received 
26,000 calls and drugs worth an estimated UKP500,000 were sold on the 
streets during that time.

Chf Insp Maskrey added: "This operation has had an enormously 
positive impact within the community of Burton.

"Not only has it resulted in the incarceration of a number of 
significant drug dealers but it has also resulted in the substantial 
decline of associated offending such as burglary and other serious 
acquisitive crime."

At one point , crime in the town plummeted by 72 per cent.

"However, The investigation does not stop here," said Burton's top cop.

"Financial investigators are working hard to recover assets obtained 
by the defendants as a result of their drug trafficking activities 
and there are a number of financial hearings set for later in the year.

"The assets under investigation currently total approximately UKP700,000.

"This operation was not all about enforcement.

"A great deal of work was done to encourage partner agencies within 
healthcare, probation and drug treatment charities, to have a more 
coordinated approach.

"This instigated a more pro active and harmonised approach to offer 
the appropriate support to drug users."

More than a year since the first raid and almost two years since work 
began on tackling the drug problems in Burton, Chf Insp Maskrey 
talked to the Mail about the operation, and its impact, as a whole.

He said: "We feel that this operation was a total success. "I believe 
it has given the people of Burton confidence in the police and 
criminal justice system regarding the war on drugs and was also 
successful as drug supply activity within the area was seriously disrupted.

"The operation has provided a platform for officers to successfully 
continue in the enforcement and management of such criminality on a 
day-to-day basis."

He also moved to thank the public for their role and urged them to 
continue helping to keep the streets clear of criminals and crime levels down.

He said: "Lastly, but most importantly I would like to thank the 
public for their support with this campaign.

"I would encourage people to continue to help us in tackling drug 
related activity by letting us know if they see suspicious activity 
by contacting us on 101, or by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555111."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom