In a significant stride in the fight against market-exploiting narcotics, the local Bradford woman known as Farzana Kauser was sentenced to a term of 13 years and 4 months. Her sentence comes following an extensive inquiry by the National Crime Agency (NCA). In partnership with an incognito associate from Pakistan, who goes by the moniker ‘Uncle,’ Kauser became involved in a complex operation to transport narcotics from Cancun, Mexico, to the United Kingdom.
This 54-year-old woman resided on Waterlily Road in Bradford. She masterminded a scheme that involved ferrying cocaine across international borders. Her arrest occurred on the 11th day of November, 2024, while she was at Birmingham Airport. Nevertheless, she denied participation in the drug smuggling operation, claiming she was in the airport merely to pick her children up.
When apprehended, it wasn’t just Kauser at the airport. Accompanying her were her children, who, the NCA revealed, were transporting as much as 180 kilograms of cocaine. The drugs, in street value, were estimated to fetch up to £14.4 million. The drugs were to be transferred to another courier working for a different Organised Crime Group (OCG) at the airport, with the remaining consignment meant to be transported back to Kauser’s house for distribution.
Following the investigation, it was uncovered that this wasn’t the group’s first drug run. Evidence unearthed by the NCA depicted a serial operation. It was the fifth time within the span of August to November 2024 that this group, comprising Kauser’s kin, had consigned high-purity cocaine into Birmingham Airport.
Interestingly, Kauser’s family was deeply embedded in this drug trafficking operation. Integral to the crime group were Kauser’s four sons, one daughter, and a daughter-in-law. Every one of them, the NCA found, was complicit in these drug smuggling escapades.
Each member of her immediate family was involved in the process and accepted their participation in smuggling Class A drugs. Umair Mohammed, a 22-year-old individual, whose residence is also listed as Waterlily Road, Bradford, received an eight-year, one-month sentence. The oldest, Junaid Shaffaq, 33, shared the same address and was sentenced to 10 years and nine months, and Mohammed Aamir Shaffaq, 28, received an identical sentence.
The female members of the family were not exempt from the illegal operation. Kauser’s daughter Safa Noor, a 19-year-old resident of Waterlily Road, Bradford, also received corporal punishment. Safa admitted to smuggling class A drugs, and she was subsequently sentenced to seven years and two months.
Sarah Hussain, 28, of Hollybank Road, Bradford and Kauser’s daughter-in-law, was charged but avoided incarceration after admitting her participation in the criminal group’s activities. Sarah was fortunate enough to receive a two-year sentence, which was suspended for an equivalent duration.
The reach of Kauser’s Organised Crime Group (OCG) extended beyond familial connections. Khaled Abdulkawi, a 36-year-old man residing at Alexandra Road, Halesowen, was deeply involved with the crime group. Despite not being related to the family, he actively participated in drug smuggling and was handed a sentence of 10 years and nine months.
Abdulkawi played a significant role in the operation by taking possession of cocaine transported by Kauser’s group. Further investigation revealed that he also lent his services as a courier to another UK-based OCG, thus cementing his connection to drug trafficking within the region.
Drugs dispatched from Cancun, Mexico were first loaded onto a flight bound for the UK. Upon arrival at Birmingham airport, the suitcases laden with the illicit drugs were mere carousel rotations away from being received by the designated couriers.
The NCA vigilantly collaborates closely with other national and international partners to mitigate the prevalent risk presented by Class A drugs to the United Kingdom. This is an ongoing battle, as international crime rings continue to plague the UK with the distribution of harmful narcotics.
The successful prosecution in this case underscores the commitment of the Crown Prosecution Service and law enforcement authorities, demonstrating their continuous efforts to upend drug supply chains. A clear message is sent that those who partake in severe organized crime can expect rigorous prosecution and future time behind bars.
The post Bradford Woman Nets 13-Year Term in Major Drug Case appeared first on Real News Now.
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