Sixteen in court after Shropshire drugs raids
Sixteen people arrested during a series of early morning drugs raids in Shropshire and the West Midlands have appeared in court.
Six are accused of being involved in a year-long conspiracy to supply drugs in the Telford and Shrewsbury areas.
Three are also accused of threatening and intimidating witnesses involved in a West Mercia police inquiry, codenamed Operation Sift.
Adnan Khan, 21, of Manor Road, Hadley, Nasser Khan, 20, of Bush Close, Dothill, and Waqar Hussain, 21, of Hurleybrook Way, Leegomery, who are charged with conspiring together, and with other defendants, to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis between September 2012 and September this year appeared at Birmingham Crown Court.
Jangheer Khan, 30, of Bush Close, Dothill, Mohammed Aqil, 23, of Manor Road, Arleston, and Wassiem Hussain, 22, of Crescent Road, Hadley, are charged with conspiracy to supply cannabis during the same period.
In addition, Jangher Khan, Waqar Hussain and Adnan Khan, are accused of offences of threatening and intimidating witnesses in July this year. Adnan Khan is further charged with being in possession of £6,200 in cash knowing it was the proceeds of criminal activity.
Also appearing were Amar Hussain, 22, of Eyton Road, Dawley, Robert Carter, 28, of Bleachfield, Hanwood, Shrewsbury, Brian Harrison, 36, of Park Lane, Woodside, and John Allen, 25, of Spout Way, Malinslee, who are charged with conspiring to supply cannabis between September last year and September this year. Sandeep Paul, 20, of Hadrian Flats, Wellington, faces charges of conspiring to supply crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis during the same period.
In addition Paul Garfield Patterson, 46, and Sharron Campbell, 41, both of Burford, Brookside, and Nicola Firth, 31, and Garry Warren, 52, both of Blakemore, Brookside, and Courtney Hamilton, 38, of Trysull Road, Penn, Wolverhampton, appeared accused of conspiring with each other, and with others, to supply crack cocaine and heroin between January, 2005, and September this year.
Patterson, Hamilton and Campbell also face allegations of money laundering during the same period. All were remanded in custody and a date of December 18 has been set for a plea and case management hearing for all 16 defendants.
