The gang ran one of East London’s largest drug lines
A criminal gang which sold Class A drugs to thousands of addicts in Bethnal Green has been jailed for a combined 92 years. Some 16 people have been convicted and sentenced following a two-year Metropolitan Police probe into the ‘Specs’ drugs line.
Scotland Yard has described its as one of East London’s largest drug lines which flooded Tower Hamlets with 14kg of heroin and crack cocaine over two years, Ringleaders Nefur Miah and Muhammed Ismail Ali were handed the biggest prison sentences of 17 years and seven months; and 12 years and six months respectively.
Police launched the investigation after a surge in reports from residents about drug dealing openly taking place on street corners and within children’s parks. There was also an increase in crime across Bethnal Green which left the community feeling unsafe.
Officers first targeted the runners on the street before going after those at the top of the gang to fully eradicate it. Plain-clothed officers followed known gang members, who were seen brazenly selling class A drugs to users in Bethnal Green.
This was then used by detectives to provide a wider picture of the gang and identify those higher up in the command structure
Despite attempts by those involved to evade police monitoring by routinely switching their mobile phones off, officers conducted detailed and extensive analysis of phone data. Call records and location data were mapped for more than 50 mobile phones believed to be used by the group. These phones linked the gang to a stash address in Barking, which was searched by police in 2022.
During this raid officers found significant quantities of class A drugs and cash, along with three firearms belonging to the group. On Tuesday, May 12 the gang was sentenced to more than 100 years, 92 of which in custody.
PC Shah Haque, who led the investigation said: “The streets of London will be safer with this gang behind bars. I hope the long sentences provide reassurance to the community in Bethnal Green and beyond that we will work relentlessly to pursue the groups who bring drugs, weapons and violence to our communities.
“The sheer scale of our investigation – two years of detailed analysis of phones as well as covert surveillance, shows the scale of the criminality and our commitment to getting these dangerous people off our streets.”
Full list of 16 gang members convicted
- Nefur Miah, 38, of Redmans Road, Tower Hamlets. Sentenced to 17 years and seven months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs
- Muhammed Ismail Ali, 38 of Marlborough Road, Romford. Sentenced to 12 years and six months for conspiracy to supply A drugs and conspiracy to possess a firearm
- Emran Hussain, 42 of Beccles Drive, Barking. Sentenced to 11 years and six months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs and conspiracy to possess a firearm
- Rezwanual Choudhury, 30 of Brick Lane, Tower Hamlets. Sentenced to nine years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs
- Shanoor Ahmed, 40 of Russia Lane, Tower Hamlets. Sentenced to eight years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs
- Delowar Ahmed, 40 of Russia Lane, Tower Hamlets. Sentenced to six years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs
- Faieq Islam, 35 of Pulteney Close, Tower Hamlets. Sentenced to five years and seven months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs
- Reece Duncombe, 39, sentenced to three years and nine months for being concerned in the supply of class A drugs
- Mominul Hoque, 40 of Falmouth Gardens, Ilford. Sentenced to two years and eight months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs
- Liton Miah, 37 from Rainhill Way, Tower Hamlets. Sentenced to two years and four months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs
- Michael Issit, 43 from Old Ford Road, Tower Hamlets. Sentenced to two years, suspended for two years, for conspiracy to supply class A drugs
- Shabab Baksh, 29 of Tiller Road, Tower Hamlets. Sentenced to two years, suspended for two years, for being concerned with the supply of class A drugs
- Saeed Abdullahi Ahmed, 42 of Bethnal Green Road, Tower Hamlets. Sentenced to two years suspended for two years, for being concerned with the supply of class A drugs
- Nizam Uddin, 42 of Huddleston Close, Tower Hamlets. Sentenced to two years, suspended for two years, for conspiracy to supply class A drugs
- Muhammed Abbas, 23 of no fixed address. Sentenced to eight years and six months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and firearms offences
- Simeon Oliver Stewart, 32 of Clevedon Close, Hackney. Sentenced to five years and five months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
To see all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your area, enter your postcode below or visit the Public Notice Portal HERE
