The final three members of a drug gang that focused on supplying young people with ‘party drugs’ have all been jailed.
Final three members of nine-strong Nottingham drug gang face jail terms
Kieran Neilson, Heather McGrory and Rabeena Kausser were sentenced to a combined total of 19 years in prison for their part in the gang of nine.
The trio all played key roles in supplying MDMA, cocaine, ketamine and cannabis across the Nottingham city area, with the group focusing on selling drugs to young people.
Drug dealers Neilson and McGrory were linked to the operation after police uncovered messages showing them being directed by other members of the group of where to carry out deals.
Kausser was also arrested after officers acting on intelligence found that she has been allowing the group to use her house to package and store drugs for around a year.
Quantities of cocaine and ketamine, as well as scales, deal bags and cash were all discovered at Kausser’s home during the warrant on 1 October 1 2019, while her fingerprints were also found on the drugs discovered at the property.
Final three gang members
All three appeared before Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (25 February 2022), having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A and class B drugs.
Neilson, 22, of Colchester Road, Aspley, was sentenced to eight years in prison.
McGrory, 27, of Larch Gardens, Bulwell, was sentenced to five years in prison.
Kausser, 34, of Soudan Drive, The Meadows, was sentenced to six years in prison.
The sentencing of the trio meant that all nine members of the drug gang – spearheaded by brothers Jamil and Shakeel Amin – have been successfully brought to justice, with the group sentenced to a combined 77 years in prison.
Investigation
As part of a lengthy and complex investigation, detectives discovered WhatsApp conversations over the course of October 2018 about the supply of MDMA, cocaine, ketamine and cannabis between Shamus Gulfraz and members of the gang.
The Amin brothers were already being investigated at the time, and officers recovered a ‘dealer card’ as they were conducting enquiries, which proved to be key to securing Gulfraz’ conviction.
As they delved deeper, they found the number on the card matched with the top calling number to Shakeel Amin’s drug line, which was subsequently found to be linked to Gulfraz, 28, of no fixed address.
Over the coming months, officers found messages between other group members, including drugs lists and videos showing Zain Mushtaq bragging about designer jewellery and clothing, as well as handling a quantity of cash.
Surveillance on the group began on 7 May 2019 and after witnessing drug deals and conducting a search of a garage in Bolton Road, West Bridgford, officers were quick to bring Shakeel Amin, 29, of Grassington Road, Beechdale, into custody.
Police also found a significant amount of cocaine, MDMA and cannabis, in addition to 10 kilograms boric acid, which is a cutting agent used to bulk out cocaine.
Zain Mushtaq was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs after attending St Ann’s Police Station for a separate matter.
This then led to a warrant in Leroy Wallace Avenue, Radford, where a large number of dealer cards and empty deal bags were found.
It was then that Shamus Gulfraz returned and officers swiftly arrested him on suspicion of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs.
Gulfraz’ arrest marked a significant turning point and the climatic point of the investigation, as shortly after officers made the final two arrests.
Further analysis of the conversations led officers to search for Saad Essa. He was located and arrested in London on 3 October 2019, and in 2020 officers were able to finalise their year-and-a-half case when they made their final arrests.
Other convictions
In total, the gang were sentenced to a combined 76 years and nine months in prison:
Kieran Neilson, 22, of Colchester Road, Aspley, was sentenced to eight years in prison
Heather McGrory, 27, of Larch Gardens, Bulwell, was sentenced to five years in prison
Rabeena Kausser, 34, of Soudan Drive, The Meadows, was sentenced to six years in prison
Jamil Amin, aged 31, of Aspley Park Drive, Beechdale, was sentenced to 17 years in prison
Shakeel Amin, aged 29, of Grassington Road, Beechdale, was sentenced to 12 years and nine months in custody
Shamus Gulfraz, 28, of no fixed address, was sentenced to four years in prison
Saad Essa, aged 24, of Briar Road, Harrow, was sentenced nine years in prison
Zain Mushtaq, aged 22, of Thorncliffe Road, Mapperley, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison
Ben Jones, aged 26, of no fixed address, who was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison
Police statement
Detective Constable Steven Fenyn, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: “The group, who are mostly in their twenties themselves, had a huge influence on the young people they were targeting.
“They were dealing a wide range of dangerous drugs and it is abhorrent how they used this to benefit their criminality.
“This investigation was lengthy and complex and involved a lot of collaborative efforts, but ultimately it was worthwhile and we’re extremely pleased to see that the whole group have now been sentenced and are dealing with the consequences of their actions.
“This is a firm warning to anyone involved in drug dealing. Nottinghamshire Police is absolutely determined to crack down on this type of activity and join forces with different teams to carry out the necessary observations, action and enforcement to ensure illegal drugs are taken off Nottinghamshire’s streets.”
