An organised crime network acted like characters from TV show The Wire while running a £300,000 drugs empire across London, detectives said.
Masoom Ali’s syndicate supplied heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and cannabis for three years before spending the proceeds on their lavish lifestyles.
Ali, 24, Ismail Mirza, and Mohammed Omor Tariq, both 21, were identified as principal holders of five drug lines.
City of London Police discovered the group advertised their illegal wares by handing out business cards.
Messages were being sent to users offering Class A and B commodities for sale, pricing structures and dealers’ availability.
Officers decided to deploy undercover units to gather evidence of their activities as the whole gang was put under surveillance.
Between January and March 2023, a series of raids were executed at homes in east London where drugs and cash was found.
Detective Sergeant Lee Warrington, who led the case, said: “Their activity of drug running and spending could have been an episode of The Wire.”
Described as the best crime show of all time, HBO’s The Wire starring Dominic West and Idris Elba tells the story of the illegal drug trade in Baltimore.
At Inner London Crown Court, Ali, of Prusom Street, Tower Hamlets received six years and nine months in prison after admitting drug and money laundering offences.
For their parts, Mirza, of Westferry Road, Isle of Dogs, got three years; Tariq, of Broad Street, Banbury, three years and seven months.
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Other members Salaman Miah, 26, of Boundary Road, Barking, received 14 months and Shakil Miah, 21, of Hale Street, Isle of Dogs will be sentenced at a later date.
DS Warrington added: “Tackling the harm caused by drugs is a priority for the City of London Police and I am really pleased our investigation has resulted in lengthy prison sentences for Ali, Mirza and Tariq.
“Everyone involved worked hard to build a concrete case against those involved in these drug lines, from the top down.
“Putting these criminals behind bars removes another threat to rid the streets of this most impactful and harmful illegal activity as we continue to actively identify, investigate and prosecute all others attempting to do the same.
“Selling illegal drugs into our communities reaps misery and harm on the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in society.”
