A GROUP of County Lines drug dealers who brazenly posed for pictures with the profits of their crime have been found guilty.
The “Jay” line, which included members from Solihull, 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, from Hall Green, for £40,000, with the pair taking over running the line.
Throughout 2020 and 2021 West Midlands Police officers examined 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.
More than £200,000 cash was seized by police, including over £80,000 found at the address of Shamraz and Amrez Alam while warrants were carried out.
In all, the Jay line supplied nearly 400 customers, with people being encouraged to pay directly into Asim’s bank account via transfer.
Police said when he was asked about this in interview, he tried to claim the account was his, but that he had lent it to a friend to use and knew nothing about what was happening in the account.
The force added when Dobre’s address in Edgbaston was searched, no drugs were found, but a car parked outside was examined revealing a converted firearm, a pellet gun, a starter pistol and five live rounds as well as documents relating to Shamraz Alam.
In Dobre’s interview, she told officers she knew nothing about any drug dealing, but couldn’t explain to officers why she referred to Shamraz by the name “Escobar”.
Shakeel Khan, 29, of Tile Cross Road, Birmingham pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison,
The remaining six defendants, who will be sentenced on July 11 and 12, are:
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.
