Triumph for Police as Drug Empire Busted in Newcastle
Kohi Choudhury, Sabir Ahmed, and Arif Shomel have been locked up for running a massive drugs conspiracy. Police seized £29,000 worth of class A drugs in a crackdown back in July 2021.
Global Drug Ring Exposed
The investigation kicked off in October 2020 when police intercepted suspicious packages sent across the Atlantic. The North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU), teamed up with Northumbria Police, Border Force, and the National Crime Agency (NCA), launched a full-scale probe.
Raiding a Newcastle address on Stanton Street, officers uncovered a high-tech drug lab. They found over 80kg of Class C drugs, industrial pill presses, and packaging gear. Further sleuthing revealed a dark web operation selling drugs worldwide, paid for in cryptocurrency.
Ringleader Caught in the Act
26-year-old Choudhury soon became the prime suspect. After a brief release, he was rearrested in July 2021 when Border Force snagged two more drug packages destined for the US. Further raids uncovered a second advanced drug lab on Lancaster Street: a pill press pumping out 5,000 pills an hour, mixers, grinders, and more equipment.
Police seized 40,000 tablets, bulking agents, and 2kg of crystallised MDMA and ecstasy worth £29,000 on the street.
Sentenced for Serious Crime
- Kohi Choudhury got 14 years behind bars plus a 3-year Serious Crime Prevention Order.
- Sabir Ahmed received 3 years and 6 months.
- Arif Shomel was handed 2 years.
“This was a very complex investigation into large-scale drug supply spanning two continents,” said Detective Sergeant Hayley Turner-Douglass. “Thanks to fantastic collaboration between agencies, we dismantled a sophisticated criminal ring profiting thousands of pounds.”
Turner-Douglass added: “These criminals hid behind false identities and legit businesses, but we exposed their lies. This kind of criminality won’t be tolerated in our communities.”
The police warned about the dangers of buying drugs online or from the dark web. “Unlicensed drugs made by people like Choudhury pose serious risks to users,” they said.
Community Call to Action
Operation Sentinel continues to target illegal drug suppliers. The public is urged to report suspected drug activity via police websites or by dialing 101. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
