Five jailed over drug crimes made £600k
Five men involved in a drugs conspiracy are said to have gained by more than £600,000 during the "large and sophisticated" operation.
They were among more than two dozen people arrested and jailed following a lengthy undercover inquiry, codenamed Operation Active.
Two men from Wolverhampton and Tipton were among the group, involved in the supply of cocaine, heroin and cannabis on the streets of Shrewsbury and Telford. The operation centred on the Phoenix Car Centre, a second-hand car business in Shrewsbury.
At Birmingham Crown Court this week, the financial investigation into the five concluded their total realisable assets came to little more than £80,000.
Judge Michael Chambers made orders against Sajjid Ahmed, Haroon Hussain, Andrew Rattu, Scott Highfield and Dean Stewart.
Ahmed, 43, of Montague Road, Edgbaston, was said to have benefited by £82,000 from his role in the conspiracy to supply cannabis. Ahmed, who was jailed for 32 months was ordered to pay £40,000 by February or face a further 12 months in prison.
In the case of Highfield, 41, of Alton Close, Bushbury, a confiscation order was made in the sum of £3,550. The court heard his benefit was estimated at almost £15,000. His realisable assets were said to be monies from the sale of a motorcycle and a TV set. Highfield, who was sentenced to two years in prison, has until November to pay the money or face a further three months in prison.
Rattu, described as a leading player in the drugs conspiracy, had benefited by around £400,000 from his "wholesale supply" of Class A drugs. Inquiries revealed realisable assets of only £30,000. The 32-year-old, of Dudley Port, Tipton, who was jailed for seven years, has until February to pay the monies or face an additional 12 months in prison.
Hussain, 26, was said to have benefited by £80,400. His realisable assets have been estimated at £6,500 and he has until February next year to pay or face a further four months in prison. Hussain, of Millers Way, Muxton, Telford, was jailed for 38 months.
Stewart, 24, who was sentenced to 40 months, was said to have benefited by around £36,000. However, inquiries showed assets of only £500. Stewart, of Burford, Brookside, Telford, has three months to pay or face 14 days in jail.
