London Gang Busted After Flooding Aldershot with Over a Kilo of Class A Drugs
A ruthless London crime gang dubbed the “Smithy Syndicate” thought Aldershot would be an easy target for their drugs racket. They were dead wrong. After nearly two years of a relentless police probe, the drug empire is smashed — and the six gang members have been locked up for a combined 35 years.
‘Smithy Syndicate’ Sets Sights on Aldershot
Starting in August 2016, the crew ran a brutal operation supplying crack cocaine and heroin from London into the Hampshire town, deliberately exploiting Aldershot’s vulnerable addicts. Over six months, they pushed drugs daily, often orchestrating deals remotely from the capital with local runners delivering the stash.
Winchester Crown Court heard the details of the gang’s six members:
- Omer Shawqi, 22, Feltham — pleaded guilty
- Ahmed Ali Jama, 24, Brentford — pleaded guilty
- Majid Ali, 20, Isleworth — convicted after trial
- Mohamed Abdiaziz Farah, 22, Hounslow — convicted after trial
- Mourad Mohamed, 24, Hounslow — convicted after trial
- John Parkinson, 39, Camberley — pleaded guilty
Shawqi, Jama, Farah, and Mohamed led the operation, using a specific phone line to manage sales and deliveries.
Quick Action by Police Cracks the Ring
The heat was on from day one. Police swooped just 24 hours after the gang arrived, nabbing Ali in Aldershot’s Municipal Gardens and finding drugs stashed in his Travelodge room. Though some fled, they returned with a vengeance, bringing reinforcements and reviving their drug line.
Using CCTV and phone records, cops pieced together the gang’s movements. As investigations deepened, Shawqi was arrested in September and Jama’s DNA linked him to the Travelodge, leading to his arrest in November. The operation was unraveling fast.
Inside Man’s Call Crippled the Syndicate
It was gang runner John Parkinson who sealed the deal. Feeling threatened and forced to use his home as the drugs hub, he tipped off police. This led to the spring 2017 arrests of Farah, Mohamed, and finally Parkinson himself.
Judge Delivers Hefty Sentences
Judge Evans QC slammed the gang for running a “substantial operation” that flooded Aldershot with dangerous Class A drugs. The sentences handed down were:
- Farah — 9 years
- Shawqi — 7 years 4 months
- Mohamed — 8 years
- Jama — 4 years 8 months
- Ali — 3 years
- Parkinson — 3 years
Police Promise Crackdown on Drug Dealers
DC Matt Dennis said: “This lengthy, complex investigation targeted a London syndicate dealing heroin and crack cocaine, often to the most vulnerable in north Hampshire. Within 24 hours of their arrival in Aldershot, we had arrested one of them, a vital intervention that led to their downfall.
“We’re committed to rooting out such groups causing harm in our towns and cities. I want to reassure communities that if you have concerns about drug dealing, you should contact us.”
