The ‘right hand man’ and top seller for a drug gang which targeted young people and supplied them with ‘party drugs’ has been jailed.
As part of a lengthy and complex investigation, detectives discovered WhatsApp conversations about the supply of MDMA, cocaine, ketamine and cannabis between Shamus Gulfraz and members of the gang – spearheaded by brothers Jamil and Shakeel Amin over the course of October 2018.
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. Officers were at this point now convinced that he was working for the Amin brothers.
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 garage in Bolton Road, West Bridgford, officers were quick to bring Shakeel Amin into custody.
Police 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. They subsequently conducted another warrant in Grassington Road, where more boric acid, as well as scales, cannabis and a Rolex watch were recovered.
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.
Rabeena Kausser was arrested after officers recovered even more Class A and Class B drugs, as well as scales, deal bags and cash from an address in Soudan Drive, The Meadows. Kausser, who is the cousin of the Amin brothers, was found to have allowed the group to use her address to package and store drugs since 2018.
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.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday (10 February 2022), 28-year-old Gulfraz, of no fixed address, was sentenced to four years in prison, having previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A and class B controlled drugs.
Other members of the group were previously sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on 20 December 2022. This was the result of a six-week long trial, which took place at Derby Crown Court after three members of the group maintained their not guilty pleas. These were:
- Jamil Amin, aged 31, of Aspley Park Drive, Beechdale, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
- Saad Essa, aged 24, of Briar Road, Harrow, who was sentenced nine years in prison.
- Kieran Neilson, aged 22, of Colchester Road, Aspley who awaits sentencing.
- The trio were all found guilty by a jury on Wednesday 10 November 2021 and today (20 December 2021) Amin and Essa joined the rest of the group at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing.
Amin was sentenced to 17 years in prison and Essa was sentenced to nine years.
The other defendants had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply controlled drugs. These are:
- Shakeel Amin, aged 29, of Grassington Road, Beechdale, was sentenced to 12 years and nine months in custody.
- Zain Mushtaq, aged 22, of Thorncliffe Road, Mapperley, who received seven years and six months.
- Ben Jones, aged 26, of no fixed address, who was sentenced to seven years and six months.
- Rabeena Kausser, aged 34, of Soudan Drive, The Meadows and Heather McCrory, aged 27, of Larch Gardens, Bulwell, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs and await sentencing.
Detective Constable Steven Fenyn, from Nottinghamshire Police, was the officer in the case. He said: “The group, who themselves were in their twenties, 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 as we see Gulfraz being sentenced today, it marks a milestone towards the entire group receiving their sentences.
“This is a firm warning to anyone involved in drug dealing whatsoever. 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.”
Detective Inspector Jon Kerry, who led the investigation throughout, said: “After a long, thorough and complex investigation, it is pleasing to see the result of Gulfraz’ sentencing and how seriously the courts are taking the actions of each and every member of the gang.
“The group were very much active and affected young people, who are an integral demographic to Nottingham’s present and future. During this investigation, officers were relentless in their efforts to protect those affected and stop those causing harm.
“Supplying and possessing illegal drugs is not only an offence in its own right, but it is very often also indicative of wider serious and organised criminal activity. This is why we will continue to work tirelessly, bring in the necessary resources and tactically investigate, so that we can bring offenders to justice in the most efficient way possible.
“I think it’s fair to say the investigation struck a huge blow in this organised criminality, and this is absolutely a testament to DC Fenyn and is great news for the city community, the majority of which make the area a fantastic place.
“He, alongside my wider team, spent the best part of two years pulling together this entire case. His sheer tenacity and patience with this investigation absolutely ensured the successful arrest, charge and ultimately conviction of all nine defendants.”
