London Gang Nabbed and Locked Up for 35 Years Over Kilo of Class A Drugs
A ruthless London gang, dubbed the “Smithy Syndicate,” has been slammed with a total of 35 years behind bars for flooding Aldershot with over a kilo of Class A drugs. They thought Hampshire’s quiet town was an easy target – but a relentless two-year police probe smashed their operation to pieces.
Savage Syndicate Takes Aldershot by Storm
The Smithy Syndicate launched their drug spree in Aldershot in August 2016. Over six months, they pushed crack cocaine and heroin, targeting the town’s most vulnerable. Their network struck fear into the locals, operating with military precision right from London.
Today, six gang members were sentenced at Winchester Crown Court for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs:
- Omer Shawqi, 22, Feltham – pleaded guilty
- Ahmed Ali Jama, 24, Brentford – pleaded guilty
- Majid Ali, 20, Isleworth – found guilty after second trial
- Mohamed Abdiaziz Farah, 22, Hounslow – found guilty
- Mourad Mohamed, 24, Hounslow – found guilty
- John Parkinson, 39, Camberley – pleaded guilty
Police Crack Down with CCTV and Phone Taps
The gang used special phone lines and runners to sell their poison nearly every day for three months. Their first attempt crumbled within 24 hours when Majid Ali was caught with drugs at a Travelodge in Aldershot. But Shawqi and Jama quickly regrouped with reinforcements Farah and Mohamed.
Police pieced together the puzzle with CCTV footage and phone records. DNA evidence linked Jama to the scene, and undercover efforts revealed the full extent of the operation.
Inside the Network: Betrayal Brings the Syndicate Down
John Parkinson, once a runner for the gang, turned into their worst enemy. Threatened and forced to use his home as a base, he reported the crew to police. This betrayal helped nab Farah and Mohamed in February 2017. Parkinson himself was arrested the following month.
At sentencing, Judge Evans QC called it a “substantial operation”. Sentences handed down were harsh:
- Farah – 9 years
- Shawqi – 7 years and 4 months
- Mohamed – 8 years
- Jama – 4 years and 8 months
- Ali and Parkinson – 3 years each
Police Urge Communities to Stand Up
“This lengthy investigation shows we’re tough on London gangs who bring misery to peaceful towns. Within 24 hours of their arrival, we’d already arrested one of them. This sends a message: we will find you and bring you down,” said Detective Constable Matt Dennis.
“We want residents to feel confident reporting drug deals in their neighbourhoods so we can keep communities safe.”
