Luton: Drug Gang Jailed for 110 years

Twelve members of a Luton based organised crime group have been sentenced to more than 110 years in prison for running a multi-million pound drugs empire.

The group ran a complex and large scale operation supplying heroin across the country, with drugs supply networks operating in Luton, London, and Sussex.

They were arrested by officers from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs from July to September 2017.

During that period it is believed the group supplied around 30 kilograms of heroin, with police seizing 11 kilograms of heroin and one kilogram of cocaine.

Eight of the group were jailed for a total of 86 years and 10 months following appearances at Kingston Crown Court on Friday 10 May and Wednesday 15 May.

Salat Dini, 33, of Thetford Close, London; Surinder Kumar, 36, of Imberhorne Lane, East Grinstead, and Aaron Whipp, 35, of Harper Drive, Maidenbower, were also heavily involved in leading the conspiracy as well as arranging for the onward distribution of the drugs.

They were sentenced to seven, 11, and 10 years respectively after being convicted following a trial.

During that period it is believed the group supplied around 30 kilograms of heroin, with police seizing 11 kilograms of heroin and one kilogram of cocaine.

Mohammed Irfan Khan, 35, of Dunstable Road, Luton; Mohammed Khalid, 34, of Chester Avenue, Luton, and Farrukh Khokar, 48, Brunswick Road, Ealing, were the ring leaders of the group. Their roles including organising the buying and selling of Class A drugs on a commercial scale, as well as directing others within the chain.

Khan and Khalid both pleaded guilty to the offences and were sentenced to 18 years and 10 months and 15 years in prison respectively. Khokar was convicted following a trial and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Khan is already serving a 25 year prison sentence after being jailed in November 2018 for playing a similar role in a cocaine supply business.