Men sought after £16m heroin find at Black Country unit
These three men are being hunted by police after heroin with a street vale of £16 million was seized in a raid on an industrial unit in the Black Country.
The National Crime Agency is are appealing for help to identify the trio who are wanted in connection with the seizure of 165 kilos of heroin.
Investigators seized the heroin which had arrived in a sea container into London Gateway Port from Pakistan on July 1. They say the drug was concealed within metal lathes inside the container.
These were then delivered to an industrial unit in Oldbury, which was raided by officials four days later on the afternoon of July 5.
Three men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to import heroin – a 41-year-old from Bearwood, a 32-year-old from Small Heath and a 33-year-old man from Castle Bromwich. A fourth man, aged 29, was arrested later at an address in Yardley.
All four were released on bail until next January.
Investigators are now keen to speak to three other men believed to be from the Birmingham or Sandwell areas in connection with the investigation.
The first man is aged around 20, with a thin build, and clean shaven with short brown hair.
Officials claim he was present as the container was unloaded earlier in the day and spoke at length with one of the arrested men.
The second man is Asian, aged 40 to 45, with a moustache and greying short black hair.
Those leading the investigation say he used a fork lift truck to unload the container during the morning.
The third man is described as Asian, aged 30 to 45, bald and of medium build.
It is claimed he visited a DIY shop in Handsworth on July 5 between 1pm and 2pm and purchased an angle grinder.
Investigators believe the tool was used to dismantle the lathes at the unit.
National Crime Agency Birmingham Branch Commander, Paul Risby, said: "We believe these men are connected to this large heroin seizure.
"They may have key information that will assist us with our investigation.
"I'd urge them to come forward. I'm also keen to hear from members of the public who might recognise them."
Three other men have been arrested since the seizure on suspicion of conspiracy to import heroin – a 34-year-old from Oldbury, a 34-year-old from Quinton and a 50-year-old from Stanwell in Surrey. They have also been bailed until January.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or the National Crime Agency on 0370 496 7622.
The NCA has received assistance from Border Force and West Midlands Police during the investigation.
