A ruthless drug gang flooding UK streets with over £13 million of high-grade cocaine has been smashed by the National Crime Agency and police in a high-tech sting. Several couriers were locked up after months of undercover operations brought the dealers to justice.
£13.6 Million Cocaine Empire Busted
The syndicate operated between April and August 2022, pushing more than 170kg of top-purity cocaine nationwide. Using the encrypted app Wickr, the gang hid behind passwords and codenames, constantly changing meet-up spots at the last minute to dodge police.
Top Dealers Nabbed in Dramatic Bust
- Arvinder Bains, 39, from Telford, caught in London on 16 June with 10kg worth £80,000.
- Phone evidence linked Bains to supplying 22kg of cocaine on the same day.
- Shahrukh Hummayiun, 29, from Wolverhampton, identified as the gang’s mastermind.
- Other couriers arrested include Sindija Virse (28), Gabriele Trinkunaite (26), and Rubanpreet Kaur (26).
Police uncovered text messages showing the gang’s meticulous planning. They shared vehicle details—including Bains’ Nissan X-Trail—and scouted drop locations ahead of time. One chilling order said: “Tomorrow titch no excuses… Car must be ready.”
Gang Sentenced to 30 Years Behind Bars
The full gang was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 23 March, handed a combined prison term of 30 years and five months for serious organised crime.
“This criminal enterprise was sophisticated and far reaching,” said Detective Inspector Richard Smith of the Organised Crime Partnership. “The group brazenly supplied multiple communities with dangerous class A drugs without a care for the consequences. Thanks to the work of the dedicated investigators on the OCP, we were able to dismantle this network and eliminate the risk they pose to the public.”
Organised crime bosses, beware: encrypted apps can’t keep you safe from the long arm of the law.
