it was estimated that the gang made over £1 million.
Seven men were jailed for over 35 years for running Birmingham East’s biggest drugs line, making over £1 million a year peddling heroin and crack cocaine.
The gang operated the Tiger Line, making £6,000 a day from drug sales.
The drugs line had been supplying a large number of users 24/7 for several years until an investigation by West Midlands Police’s County Lines Taskforce team brought it to a halt.
Waqar Mohammed was the owner of the Tiger Line.
He was jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
Kabir Khan, whose role was to store the drugs, pleaded guilty to the same charge and was jailed for six years and nine months.
Trusted drugs runner Wasim Hussain was jailed for six years and four months after also pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
Riaz Bice was also a trusted runner for the drugs line. He was jailed for six years.
Abid Ali played a key role in running the drugs line. He was sentenced to five years and six months in prison.
Kalid Usman was the driver for the gang. Following a trial, he was convicted of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and was handed a four-year jail term.
Mohammed Javid Ali was handed a two-year jail term, suspended for 18 months for participating in the activities of an organised crime group.
County Lines Task Force officers led a thorough investigation into the group using covert surveillance tactics.
With the help of specialists, the gang’s operating model was exposed.
It was established that the Tiger Line was being operated from November 1, 2020. But it is believed that the drug line had been operating for much longer.
One gang member acted as a fleet manager, changing cars several times an hour to cars which were all insured and showing as legitimate, as well as starting their shift every morning at 5 am in a bid to avoid detection.
Over a 227-day period, it was estimated that the gang made over £1 million.
On July 6, 2022, several warrants were executed at addresses in Birmingham and arrested the gang, including Tiger Line owner Waqar Mohammed.
Drone footage captured the moment Mohammed threw a phone out of a window.
The device was recovered and it had links to the Tiger Line.
Over £5,000 in cash was seized at his address.
At other addresses, police seized cash and drugs.
Bob Brown, from the County Lines Taskforce, said:
“County Lines drug dealers target the most vulnerable, ruining lives and blighting communities.”
“This was a very sophisticated drugs operation and we are delighted to take it off our streets and get the gang convicted and behind bars.
“County Lines gangs should know they are in our sights and our work goes on 24/7 throughout the year to stop them and get them off our streets.”
We’re currently running Operation Target which sees us take a defiant stand against a range of serious and organised crime offences.
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