A woman who was part of a gang who dealt up to £5m worth of drugs in a substantial commercial operation has been ordered to pay back £71,000. The group were discovered after their encrypted chats were cracked by police.
Neesha Ali, 40, of Cardiff, played an organisational role in the enterprise and assisted in the collection of debts on behalf of her partner Kuldip Singh Dhillon who led the group. His lieutenant Jay Abdul, of Barry, enlisted other members including romantic partners to facilitate the purchase and supply of drugs including cocaine, heroin, amphetamine and cannabis.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday heard the authorities accessed Encrochat devices used by the dealers and revealed conversations between June 6 and 12, 2020, relating to the conspiracy which lasted 13 months.
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While Dhillon and Abdul, 39, led the group, Ryan Hales, 28, played a senior organisational role and was entrusted with the Enchrochat device. Marc Harris, 31, was not a member of the group but was a regular customer and sold cocaine by the kilo with the assistance of his partner Naisha Hembury, 35.
Max Smith, 25, and Aysha Ali, 36, acted as couriers. Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Jenkins said: "Each of you contributed to the success and profitability of this enterprise and each of you played essential roles."
Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe told the court that conversations involving Abdul indicated the group had discussed the supply of up to £5m worth drugs made up of 70kg of cocaine, 30kg of heroin, 96kg of amphetamine and 19kg of cannabis. But the proven financial value of the drugs which had been supplied by the group came to £1.7m.
Police also discovered the group were in possession of a Skorpion 9mm sub machine gun and a semi-automatic 9mm pistol. There was evidence of Dhillon asking an upstream supplier about these weapons, saying: "Any guns with silencers there at the moment?"
- Neesha Ali was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment.
- Abdul was sentenced to a total of 19 years and six months imprisonment.
- Hales was sentenced to 11 years and three months imprisonment.
- Harris was sentenced to seven years and four months imprisonment.
- Smith was sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment.
- Aysha Ali was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment.
- Hembury was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months and was ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work and a 15 day rehabilitation activity requirement.
A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday heard Neesha Ali, of Cosmeston Street, Cathays, was ordered to pay a total of £71,532. Judge Jenkins ordered for that sum to be paid within 28 days or Ali will serve a further nine months imprisonment in default.
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