County Lines gang convicted after posing with money for pictures

The "Jay" line supplied cocaine and cannabis across Birmingham and Warwickshire

Shakeel Khan, Shamraz Alam and Valentina Dobre
Author: Ben CartwrightPublished 29th Apr 2024
Last updated 29th Apr 2024

A group of drug dealers have been convicted after sharing photos online of the profits of their crime.

The "Jay" line, which supplied cocaine and cannabis across Birmingham and Warwickshire, was originally run by Shakeel Khan and Mohammed Asim.

Later, the pair sold the line to Shamraz and Amrez Alam for £40,000, with the pair taking over running the line.

A complex investigation throughout 2020 and 2021 saw officers examine thousands of phone messages to uncover who was involved, with enquiries finding photos of Mohammed Asim in a car posing with thousands of pounds in cash.

These enquiries also led officers to Valentina Dobre, who was Shamraz's girlfriend - her job was to store and package drugs before it was sold.

Also uncovered were Mudassar Hussain and Waqar Ali, both of whom worked on the drugs line.

Amrez Alam, Mudassar Hussain, Mohammed Asim and Waqar Ali

A series of warrants were carried out at addresses in Birmingham, resulting in the arrests of the group.

While searching one of the properties, a list was found containing the names of dozens of people and how much money they owed the dealers.

Cash was found at each address, with the total seized amounting to £212,680, including over £80,000 found at the address of Shamraz and Amrez Alam.

In all, the Jay line supplied nearly 400 customers, with people being encouraged to pay directly into Asim's bank account via transfer.

Shakeel Khan, 29, of Tile Cross Road, Birmingham pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison on 10 April.

Other defendants were also charged, the list of which are below:

Shamraz Alam, aged 31, of School Road, Hall Green - Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A, also found guilty of firearm possession.

Amrez Alam, aged 30, also of School Road, Hall Green - Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A, also found guilty of firearm possession.

Mohammed Asim, aged 30, of Ferndale Road, Birmingham - Pleaded guilty to possession of criminal property.

Valentina Dobre, aged 40, of York Road, Birmingham - Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A.

Waqar ALi, aged 31, of Oakfield Road, Birmingham - Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A.

Mudassar Hussain, aged 39, also of Oakfield Road, Birmingham - Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A.

They will all be sentenced on 11 and 12 July this year.

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