Two Men jailed for attempting to Smuggle Drugs into Prison

Two men were jailed on June 17, 2020, after they tried to smuggle drugs into a prison.

The duo, from Birmingham and the Black Country, attempted to smuggle hundreds of pounds worth of drugs before being arrested.

They were arrested at HMP Berwyn in North Wales as they tried to get cannabis and tobacco inside.

Mold Crown Court heard that both men visited the prison on December 27, 2018.

Despite both initially going in, Abdul Kayum returned to his car while Jaherul Islam went to speak to a “number of prisoners” in the visiting hall.

Islam aroused the suspicion of an officer when he “appeared rather nervous”. Islam was then caught placing a package in the back pocket of another prisoner.

The inmate was immediately detained and packages containing around £450 worth of cannabis and tobacco were recovered.

The police were called and Islam was arrested.

David Mainstone, prosecuting, said the prisoner claimed he was “oblivious” to the package being placed in his package and said there was no evidence to suggest otherwise.

Kayum’s car was searched and police discovered £240 worth of cannabis, along with two mobile phones with messages asking to buy drugs from the defendant.

He was also arrested at the scene.

The court heard that he was serving a community order from 2018 for possession of cannabis.

Islam was convicted in January 2020 for drug driving offences. He also has previous convictions for possessing cannabis.

Islam admitted supplying and conveying an article into prison.

Kayum admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

James Coutts, defending Islam, said his client recognised what he had done and asked the judge to consider a “short as possible” sentence if it could not be suspended.

Mr Coutts said that his client had been slightly “naive” and that he was described as a “follower rather than a leader”.

Andrew Green, defending Kayum, said he was aware that the defendant was subject to a community order at the time of offending, but asked for the judge to consider weighing up that there had been no further offending since.

He said Kayum was a “young man with potential”.

He said: “Those who know him speak very highly of him.

Mr Green asked the judge to give him “one final chance” by suspending the sentence.

Judge Timothy Petts said he took into consideration their guilty pleas and the delay in bringing the case to court. He gave them the maximum credit.

Jaherul Islam, aged 23, of Aston, was jailed for 16 months.

Abdul Kayum, aged 23, of Wednesbury, was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

A forfeiture for the destruction of the drugs and both mobile phones was also made.