Drugs gang discovered in Hull

Bradford County lines gang members who established a drug network valued at over a million pounds were sentenced to a total of 27 years in prison.

The group was discovered during a protracted investigation that ran from November 2021 to March 2022.

An investigation was started by a group of skilled detectives after it was discovered that a Bradford-based organised crime group had been bringing class A drugs into the Humberside Force region.

After entering guilty pleas to charges relating to drugs, each of the seven members made a separate appearance before Hull Crown Court last week.

It happened after the group acknowledged earlier in the year that they were involved in drug distribution throughout the communities of Goole and Hull.

• Safraz Zahir, 29, of Parsonage Road, was charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was sentenced to nine years and seven months in prison. Zahir was also charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and was sentenced to three years to run concurrently.
• Umair Shakeel, 25, of Ryan Street, was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs and was sentenced to eight-years in prison.
• Justin Horniak, 21, of Halton Place, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and was sentenced to six years and 11 months in prison.
• Mohammed Raja, 25, Woodroyd Road, was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs and was sentenced to two years and 10-months.
• Tommy Tomassi, 22, of Queensgate Street, Hull, was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs and possession of an offensive weapon and received a 24 months community order to run concurrently.
• Asher Buckingham, 19, of Terry Street, Hull, was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs and possession with intent to supply cannabis. He received a 24 months rehabilitation order.
• Harvey Fox, 19, of Queensgate Street, Hull, was charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs and was sentenced to 18-months suspended sentenced for two years. He was also required to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and 15-day of rehabilitation and a victim surcharge.

How the drugs network was uncovered

North Yorkshire Police had conducted a separate investigation in November 2020 in addition to the other operation.

After it was discovered that Zahir’s drug line was a part of the same county line that operated in Humberside, the Organised Crime Unit of the Humberside force conducted an investigation.

A car was stopped and searched by West Yorkshire Police officers as it was travelling down Boothferry Road in Goole.

Zahir, a passenger at the time and someone under conditional bail, was discovered in possession of a bag containing class A drugs valued at £1,410.

After conducting additional searches inside the car and apprehending Zahir on the spot, authorities recovered a burner phone and started analysing a lot of data from mobile phones.

Officers were able to quickly determine that the phone was being used to run a drugs line known as the “Freddy” line thanks to additional evidence that was gathered.

A large number of text messages about the distribution of class A drugs—primarily cocaine and diamorphine—were discovered.

Zahir was freed on bond while the investigations proceeded and a committed group of detectives started dissecting the network.

“After extensive mobile phone data analysis, enquiries revealed that the drugs were marketed within the Humberside area using specific telephone numbers which were branded and known to drug users within the Humberside area,” stated Police Constable Claire Dobson, who oversaw the investigation.

“Once established, bulk marketing messages would be sent out using the lines to promote the drugs that were being offered. Drug users on a contact list would receive messages when the line was active, at which point they would reply and place their orders.

“Discussions revealed a number of messages from Zahir’s associates outlining the drug storage arrangements. These messages led to the identification of Horniak, Buckingham, and Raja, who were subsequently taken into custody due to their involvement.

Due to gathered evidence and intelligence, Horniak and Raja were both taken into custody at their Bradford residences on Monday, March 7, 2022.

Officers searched Horniak’s property after making an arrest and found burner phones, cash, electronic scales, a machete and a letter from Zahir, who, at this point, was under arrest.

“On March 23, 2022, a Wednesday, Tomassi’s residence on Newland Grove in Hull was discovered to be her address. After conducting a search, the officers found Tomassi, Shakeel, and Fox on the premises, along with some cash, electronic scales, and a significant amount of class A drugs. Police found a significant amount of drugs inside the vent of the building, and when forensics examined the fingerprints, they matched Shakeel’s.

“An additional firearm was found at the residence, and Tomassi was detained further on suspicion of possessing a firearm.”

Additionally, numerous cell phones were taken.

It was determined that Newland Grove was being used as a “stash house” once the drugs were transported from Bradford.

Following that, all seven of them faced charges related to their involvement.