12 people jailed for 100+ years following biggest county lines police operation in West Midlands
Twelve people from the West Midlands have been jailed for a combined total of more than 100 years.
Twelve people have been handed prison sentences totalling more than 100 years in the largest operation by our County Lines Task Force (CLTF) since it was set up two years ago.
Seventeen warrants were executed at properties across Birmingham and Solihull following a six-month investigation into the Rico, Diego, Figo and Potter drug lines in May 2023.
In November 2022, the CLTF launched a major investigation – Operation Hunterian - into the four lines following enquiries into drug dealing in Birmingham and Solihull.
Analysis of all four lines showed bulk messages being sent to large numbers of phones – a common trait of County Lines operations. The numbers associated with each line would reference either Rico, Diego, Figo or Potter and advertise drugs for sale.
Brothers Aadam and Haroon Iqbal, and Mohammed Usman, were in control of the Rico line through two phone numbers operating in Hodge Hill.
Aadam and Haroon were stopped by officers a number of times. Phones recovered from them linked them to the running of the Rico line and frequently placed them in the same location as the phone line.
During a search of their properties when the warrants were executed, Haroon and Usman were each found with a Rico phone.
Detectives also looked into the Diego line.
On the 3 February 2023, Adam Slater and Tiahna Phillips were both working for the Diego line. They were stopped in their car in Solihull where phone data showed the Diego line as being active in the area.
Slater was stopped once again on 14 February and two phones were recovered. One was identified as being used for the Diego line.
On 17 February, Yasine Sadiq reactivated and switched the line to a different network. He also did the same with his personal phone number. However, through telecommunication investigations and CCTV enquiries detectives were able to track the change and link Yasine to the ‘Diego line’.
This is a tactic often used by drug dealers to evade being captured by police.
Investigations into the phone data associated with the Figo line showed regular communication between Mark Seeley and Amani Adams who were working for the line along with Ilyas Sadiq who controlled the line. The three men would regularly exchange messages arranging meet ups and drug drop offs.
Seeley’s car was captured on CCTV a number of times parked outside shops where the Diego line would be topped up. Drug users would top the line up in exchange for extra drugs - another tactic often used by drug dealers to evade police.
As the Investigation gathered pace, detectives looked into the Potter line which showed Anees Mahmood, Humair Ul Rehman and Levy Mukwita in regular communication.
Messages revealed that Mukwita would supply drugs to all four lines. The 24-year-old would act as the middle man to each line and phone data shows that he would arrange the supply of drugs with those controlling and running all of the lines.
All four lines were active in parts of east Birmingham and Solihull and were taking over 1,000 calls per day and servicing more than 200 drug users of class A heroin and crack cocaine.
The revenue from these lines was estimated to be between £18,000 and £20,000 per week – up to a staggering £100,000 per month.
During the warrants we recovered a significant quantity of class A drugs, a large amount of cash and mobile phones used to run some of the lines.
Aadam and Haroon Iqbal, Usman, Seeley, Yasine Sadiq, Ilyas Sadiq, Slater, Phillips and Mukwita were all arrested during the warrants last year.
Amani Adams and Rehman handed themselves in the following month, while Mahmood was arrested at Birmingham Airport in September having fled to Pakistan.
All 12 pleaded guilty at court hearings earlier this year.
Det Sergeant Craig Tennant from West Midlands Police, said: “This is a fantastic result following a complex investigation. The team have successfully taken a large number of drugs off the streets and put this group who caused misery in our communities behind bars for a very long time.
“The four lines operated under a unique model and they all worked together as a coalition, which is rare to see with drugs line.
“This meant they could service more customers and ultimately earn more money together.
“Our actions do not stop at enforcement. We continue to work with partner agencies to offer support to vulnerable people and provide long-term support.
“As ever, we couldn’t do this without information from the public and encourage you to get in touch if you have any information. You might think it’s nothing, but it could be integral to our investigation.
Yesterday at Birmingham Crown Court, they were jailed:
Sentencing details below:
- Aadam Iqbal, 28, of Ward End Park Road - sentenced to 12 years and six months
- Anees Mahmood, 24, of Parkfield Road, Alum Rock - sentenced to 12 years and 10 months
- Yasine Sadiq, 27, of Fernbank Road, Birmingham - sentenced to 11 years
- Ilyas Sadiq, 28, of Fernbank Road, Birmingham - sentenced to 10 years and 10 months
- Levy Mukwita, 25, of Wallbank Court, Birmingham - sentenced to 10 years and six months
- Mohammed Usman, 26, of Hodge Hill Road, Birmingham- sentenced to 10 years and six months
- Amani Adams, 21, of Drews Lane, Birmingham- sentenced to eight years
- Haroon Iqbal, 34, of Drylea Grove, Birmingham- sentenced to six years and four months
- Adam Slater, 21, of Tyburn Road, Birmingham- sentenced to six years
- Humair Ul Rehman, 27, of Rymond Road, Birmingham- sentenced to six years
- Tiahna Phillips, 23, of Draycott Avenue, Birmingham- sentenced to five years
- Mark Seeley, 36, of Nineacres Drive, Solihull - sentenced to four years and eight months