Dark Web Drug Dealers Nabbed in Massive UK Bust
Two men linked to a ruthless organised crime gang have been slammed with hefty jail terms for running a dark web drug empire across the UK. The pair used sneaky social media apps and encrypted networks to push Class A drugs from cocaine to LSD, raking in millions.
More Than £100k in Cash and Crypto Seized
- Jehanzeb Amar, 29, from Hounslow, locked up for 13½ years at Birmingham Crown Court
- Salahydin Warsame, 29, of Birmingham, sentenced to 10½ years
- Police recovered over £32,000 cash plus £71,000 in cryptocurrency
- ‘LetsWork’ dark web drug brand cleared out £3.7 million via crypto payments
The Crime Network’s Secret Online Operation
The Met Police’s Specialist Crime South Command uncovered the ring in February 2020. Using the alias “LetsWork,” the gang ran a notorious app with 1,000+ subscribers. Buyers could order cocaine by the gram or kilo, paying exclusively in cryptocurrencies. An automated bot processed orders, while frequent posts showcased kilo blocks stamped with the “LW” brand.
The app even kept customers posted about supply hiccups during the Covid pandemic, boosting their street cred.
The Sting: Crushing the Drug Empire
On 20 July 2020, cops stopped Warsame near a Post Office in Birmingham. He was caught with 61 cocaine packages, ready to be posted across the UK. His van hid a slick remote-controlled hydraulic compartment containing a kilo of heroin and 250g of cocaine.
Amar was arrested at a safe house in Birmingham preparing more drug parcels. Searches uncovered a kilo of cocaine, 2,000 LSD tabs, cutting agents, smartphones, crypto wallets, a labelling printer, packaging, and piles of cash. Linked premises in Solihull yielded additional crypto wallets and cash.
Warning from the Met
Detective Sergeant Damian Hill, Specialist Crime South Command, said: “The Met is determined to smash organised crime, whether it’s on the streets or hidden online. Amar and Warsame thought they could run this multi-million-pound scheme in secret, but we shut them down.
“Anyone tempted to buy illegal drugs online using cryptocurrencies, beware—you’re traceable and could face prosecution. Plus, you’re putting yourself in the hands of dangerous organised crime networks who now have your personal details.”
