Four men jailed following investigation into drug dealing in Gloucester
The men had pleaded guilty to supplying cannabis at an earlier hearing
Four men from towns and cities across England have been jailed for their involvement in drug dealing in Gloucester.
Akar Anwary, Aland Faxr, Paywand Ghareeb and Araz Meen appeared at Gloucester Crown Court for sentencing on Friday 8 August where they were jailed for a combined eight-and-a-half years.
The men had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis at an earlier court appearance.
Akar Anwary, aged 27 and of Skelmersdale in Lancashire, was jailed for two years and one month.
Aland Faxr, aged 22 and of International Way in Southampton, was also jailed for two years and one month.
Paywand Ghareeb, aged 23 and of Millbrook Street in Gloucester, was jailed for one year and nine months.
Araz Meen, aged 33 and of no fixed address, was jailed for two years and eight months.
Police first became aware of the men in December 2024 after an officer saw what they believed to be a drug deal taking place in Gloucester.
Officers spoke to a person who had entered a car being driven by Faxr and it was established that they had just bought cannabis from him.
Faxr and his car were searched and officers found three bags of cannabis and £75 in the pocket of a jacket he was wearing. Faxr was subsequently arrested on suspicion of the supply of cannabis.
Around a month later, in January 2025, officers saw the same silver VW Polo being driven by Faxr.
The car smelt strongly of cannabis and so Faxr and the car were searched. Under the driver’s seat was a black bag continuing 28 individual bags of cannabis and Faxr was in possession of £525 so he was arrested again.
Faxr was interviewed and released on police bail for further enquiries.
In February officers spotted a Grey Volkswagen Polo being driven by Anwary. The vehicle was stopped and officers could smell cannabis so Anwary was detained for a drug search.
Nothing was immediately found on Anwary or in the car; however, upon further searches, an officer noticed that the driver's electric window switch housing was lose and on removing this found two black bags hidden in an empty space beneath.
The bags contained 28 zip seal bags deals of cannabis so Anwary was arrested on suspicion of the supply of cannabis.
Officers saw another suspected drug deal take place at the end of March
Anwary was driving and Ghareeb was the front seat passenger. Both men and the car were searched and 12 bags of cannabis were found under the passenger seat in a leather wash bag. £350 was seized from Ghareeb and £40 from Anwary. Both were subsequently arrested for cannabis supply.
Another car pulled up nearby and officers saw an unknown man get into the car before leaving around 20 seconds later.
An officer followed the BMW and Faxr was the sole occupant.
He was searched and found in possession of 15 bags of cannabis and £275 in cash. He was arrested for cannabis supply. Located in the car was a wallet including ID belonging to Anwary.
A member of the public approached the car and appeared to be a buyer. His phone was viewed and the drug line he had purchased from was on Snapchat.
Enquires were made which led police to an address where Anwary, Faxr and Ghareeb were residing.
During a search of the address 272 cannabis deals in both 1g and 3.5g deals were found along with £3,510 in cash, three sets of small digital scales and multiple empty deal bags.
Whilst police were at the address Meen turned up. When searched he was found in possession of a bank card.
Enquires earlier in the day had established that drug buyers were able to pay for cannabis via a bank transfer directly into this bank account. Due to this direct link he was also arrested for being concerned in the supply of cannabis.
Deportation of the men is now being considered by immigration.
PC Burch from the Gloucester and Forest Local Policing Area said: "I am pleased that these men have been taken off the streets and can no longer deal drugs to those living in Gloucester.
"The group had taken photos and videos on their phones which showed their activity and this allowed us to secure the convictions against them."