Ex-Prison Officer Busted Smuggling Cannabis in Chocolate Bars
A former prison officer and three inmates have been jailed for a combined 11 years after running a cannabis smuggling ring inside HMP Oakwood. Robert Anderson, 31, from Birmingham, exploited his job to hide cannabis inside Double Decker chocolate bars, sneaking drugs into the prison in 2022.
Drug Gang Uncovered at Wolverhampton Crown Court
Anderson was caught alongside inmates Waqqas Mughal, 36, from Smethwick, Yousef Abdullahi, 31, and Loen Burton, 29, from Mill Hill, London. All four were convicted of conspiracy to supply class B drugs.
- Anderson got 2 years and 9 months.
- Mughal was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months.
- Abdullahi copped a hefty 5-and-a-half-year term.
- Burton’s sentence is yet to be decided.
High-Tech Smuggling Ring: SIM Cards, Phones & Secret Contacts
The West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) busted a wide operation inside the prison walls. Highlights from the investigation included:
- £13,000 worth of cannabis found on Anderson during a prison search in December 2022.
- Cash and damning mobile phone evidence at his home showing frequent contact with inmates.
- SIM cards and packaged cannabis discovered in Mughal’s cell.
- Illegal mobile phones in Abdullahi’s cell, revealing coordinated drug deals inside HMP Oakwood.
Judge Condemns ‘Betrayal of Trust’ as Detective Praises Crackdown
“This was a sophisticated operation with Anderson abusing his position to smuggle drugs in,” said Detective Constable Adam McHugh of West Midlands ROCU. “Seizing SIM cards and illicit phones showed the true scale of the conspiracy. These sentences demonstrate our zero tolerance for criminality inside prisons, especially by those who betray trust.”
- Anderson admitted smuggling prohibited items into prison.
- Mughal pleaded guilty to possession of unauthorised SIM cards and illegal transmissions.
- Abdullahi admitted having an unauthorised mobile phone and illegal transmissions while inside prison.
