A North London man is behind bars after police seized 20 kilos of cocaine, a 9mm handgun, and £1.2million in cash from a drugs gang operating in Sheffield. Salah Nahar, 27, of St Leonards Avenue in Harrow, was jailed for four years and three months after he was convicted of being concerned in the control of criminal property.
It follows an investigation by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit that saw 13 members of the gang plead guilty ahead of the trial. Jake Roderick, 24, from Chesterfield, received the longest sentence at 16 years for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, conspiring to conceal criminal property, and possessing a firearm and ammunition without a certificate.
Seven more gang members denied their part in the operation, but were convicted after a trial at Derby Crown Court. The criminals, including Londoner Nahar, received sentences of between around four years and nine years. Three more men, including Said Homily, 54, from Glenhurst Road in North Finchley, are still to be sentenced for their role in laundering the money.
A handgun, blocks of cocaine, and loadsamoney
(Image: ROCU)
Detective Inspector Tom Bentley, who led the investigation into the group, said: “The jail sentences for this group reflect the really serious harm that they, and those like them, do to our communities. This was a sophisticated gang – who not only profited greatly from their illegal activities – but were also clearly prepared to defend their criminal enterprise with lethal firearms.
“I hope that these sentences send a clear message to anyone involved in this type of crime that there is no safe place – we will work across the region, and indeed country, to bring you to justice.”
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