County Lines Gang earning £100k a month Convicted

Twelve members of a county lines gang have been convicted following the largest operation undertaken by West Midlands Police’s County Lines Taskforce since it was set up two years ago.

On May 23, 2023, 17 warrants were executed at properties across Birmingham and Solihull following a six-month investigation into the Rico, Diego, Figo and Potter drug lines. 

In November 2022, The County Lines Team launched a major investigation into the four lines known as ‘Operation Huntarian’ following enquiries into drug dealing in Birmingham and Solihull. 

Analysis of all four lines showed bulk messages being sent to a large amount of numbers.

The numbers associated with each line would reference either Rico, Diego, Figo or Potter and advertise drugs for sale.  

Brothers Aadam and Haroon Iqbal and Mohammed Usman led the ‘Rico Line’ through two phone numbers operating in Hodge Hill.

Aadam and Haroon were stopped by officers several times.

Phones and IMEI numbers recovered from them linked them to the running of the ‘Rico line’ and frequently placed them in the same location as the phone line. 

During a search of their properties when the warrants were executed, Haroon and Usman were each found with a ‘Rico line’.  

Detectives also investigated the ‘Diego line’.

On February 3, 2023, Adam Slater and Tiahna Phillips were both working for the ‘Diego line’. They were stopped in their car in Solihull where phone data showed the ‘Diego line’ as being active in the area. 

Slater was stopped once again on February 14 and two phones were recovered.

Following an analysis of the phones, one of them was identified as being used for the ‘Diego line’. The line was subsequently dropped.

On February 17, Yasine Sadiq reactivated and switched the line to a different network. He also did the same with his personal phone number.

However, through telecommunication investigations and CCTV enquiries, detectives were able to track the change and link Yasine to the ‘Diego line’.

Investigations into the phone data associated with the ‘Figo line’ showed regular communication between Mark Seeley and Amani Adams who were working for the line along with Ilyas Sadiq who controlled the line.

The three men regularly exchanged messages, arranging meet-ups and drug drop-offs.

Seeley’s car was captured on CCTV several times parked outside shops where the ‘Diego line’ would be topped up – Drug users would top the line up in exchange for extra drugs.

As the Investigation gathered pace, detectives looked into the Potter line which showed Anees Mahmood, Humair Ul Rehman and Levy Mukwita in regular communication.

Messages revealed that Mukwita would supply drugs to all four lines. He would act as the middle man to each line and phone data shows that he would arrange the supply of drugs with those controlling and running all of the lines.

All four lines were active in parts of east Birmingham and Solihull and were taking over 1,000 calls per day and servicing more than 200 drug users of Class A heroin and crack cocaine. 

The revenue from these lines were estimated to be between £18,000 and £20,000 per week – up to £100,000 per month.

During the warrants, police recovered a significant quantity of Class A drugs, a large amount of cash and mobile phones used to run some of the lines.

 Aadam and Harroon Iqbal, Usman, Seeley, Yasine Sadiq, Ilyas Sadiq, Slater, Phillips and Mukwita were all arrested during the warrants on May 23.

Amani Adams and Rehman handed themselves in the following month, while Mahmood was arrested at Birmingham Airport in September having fled to Pakistan.

Over the last eight months, 11 people have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at Birmingham Crown Court.

On May 15, 2024, Amani Adams also pleaded guilty.

The convicted county lines group include:

• Aadam Iqbal, aged 27, of Ward End Park Road, Birmingham
• Adam Slater, aged 21, of Fordrove Lane, Solihull
• Amani, Adams aged 21, of Brinsford Road, Wolverhampton
• Anees Mahmood, aged 24, of Parkfield Road, Alum Rock
• Haroon Iqbal, aged 33, of Drylea Grove, Birmingham
• Humair Rahman, aged 26, of Rymond Road, Birmingham
• Ilyas Sadiq, aged 28, of Fernbank Road, Birmingham
• Levy Mukwita, aged 24, of Wallbank Court, Birmingham
• Mark Seeley, aged 36, of Ninearces Drive, Fordbridge
• Mohammed Usman, aged 26, of Hodgehill Road, Birmingham
• Tiahna Phillips, aged 22, of Draycott Avenue, Birmingham
• Yasine Sadiq, aged 26 of Fernbank Road, Birmingham

All 12 will be sentenced at a later date. 

Detective Inspector Phil Poole from the County Lines Team, said:

“This was a huge and complex investigation carried out by The County Lines Team who have successfully taken a large number of drugs off the streets and secured these convictions. 

“The four lines operated under a unique model and they all worked together as a coalition which is rare to see with drugs line.

“This meant they could service more customers and ultimately earn more money together.”

“The people involved have caused misery in communities in Birmingham and Solihull, by fuelling serious and organised crime such as knife crime, burglary and robbery. 

“Our actions do not stop at enforcement. We continue to work with partner agencies to offer support to vulnerable people and provide long-term support.

“As ever, we couldn’t do this without information from the public and encourage you to get in touch if you have any information.

“You might think it’s nothing, but it could be integral to our investigation.

“We’re relentless in our fight against organised crime.”