The Jammu and Kashmir region borders what is commonly called the Golden Crescent — Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran — one of the largest opium-producing zones in the world. (File Photo)
An Indian-origin man is among five people jailed in the UK for a combined 84 years for their role in a drug trafficking network, according to Press Trust of India (PTI).
The group was involved in importing and supplying cocaine and heroin into London and nearby areas.
Police said the drugs had an estimated wholesale value of nearly £8 million.
Jagjit Singh, 30, from Birmingham, was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison. He had pleaded guilty at the start of his trial last year.
Police said he was part of an organised crime group that handled large quantities of Class A drugs.
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What police found
During the investigation, officers seized more than 300kg of cocaine and over 60kg of heroin. Detective Constable Leon Ure, who led the case, said: “This case has centred on a criminal venture planned on a gigantic commercial scale which would have likely caused violence and destruction on our streets.”
He added: “These offenders organised a significant drug line into London and the surrounding counties over a prolonged period of time.”
How the network operated
Police said the group used haulage routes and “ghost warehouses” to move drugs from mainland Europe into the UK.
Lorries entering the country would leave their planned routes and stop at storage sites, where drugs were unloaded before continuing to their delivery points.
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The drugs were then repackaged and distributed. Some individuals travelled from Poland to assist with unloading and supply.
The investigation began in July 2024 after officers observed a suspected exchange of boxes between vehicles in Slough.
A later stop led to the seizure of cocaine and heroin, which helped police understand the scale of the operation.
In April, officers tracked a lorry arriving from the Netherlands to a warehouse. After the cargo was unloaded, police moved in and arrested those involved, seizing large quantities of cocaine.
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The gang members were sentenced at Kingston Crown Court in south-west London, with prison terms ranging from 14 to 26 years.
Police said the case led to the disruption of a major drug supply network and removed those involved from the streets.
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The Jammu and Kashmir region borders what is commonly called the Golden Crescent — Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran — one of the largest opium-producing zones in the world. (File Photo) 
