Upon searching the property, a number of concealed weapons were discovered including two crossbows and a combat knife, as well as paraphernalia associated with drug dealing. Using the data extracted from EncroChat to support our investigations, we have been able to identify and arrest dozens of individuals involved in dealing drugs, seizing large amounts of drugs that would otherwise have ended up on the streets.Advertisement. The defendants organised themselves to meet the demand on a round-the-clock 24 hours basis. ", Bedford student receives tickets to Wembley in surprise visit from Toon legend, Newcastle United play Manchester United in the final of the League Cup this Sunday (February 26), 'Inspirational' Beds care home resident, 90, taking on huge challenge, "Rose has been a real inspiration to everyone in our care home, and we feel so lucky to have her as part of the Thorn Springs family. The Bedfordshire Police investigation seized around 250,000 worth of drugs and 150,000 in cash. Trying to make laws to prohibit all of these new substances is like playing a game of whack-a-mole.. It is the forces response to the national Operation Venetic, which looks at criminality associated with specialist encrypted phones.Cracking the encryption on these specialist devices has enabled police to shine a light on the networks suspected of being involved in the highest levels of serious and organised crime across the country. The daily habit that extends beyond fresh breath Why good oral hygiene could protect your brain and enhance your heart health! 10:06, 2 MAR 2022 Craig McKoy, 36, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine (Image: Bedfordshire Police) A drug dealer from Luton who facilitated the sale of 10 kilogrammes of Class A drugs has been jailed, following an investigation by Bedfordshire Police's Operation Costello team. If you see something suspicious, whether this is suspected drug dealing, an unusual increase in people visiting a property or potential money laundering, let can let police know via beds.police.uk/ro/report or by calling 101. ", Bedford student receives tickets to Wembley in surprise visit from Toon legend, Newcastle United play Manchester United in the final of the League Cup this Sunday (February 26), 'Inspirational' Beds care home resident, 90, taking on huge challenge, "Rose has been a real inspiration to everyone in our care home, and we feel so lucky to have her as part of the Thorn Springs family. Candy Woodall is a Congress reporter for USA TODAY. Members of a Luton drugs gang who imported and sold hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of cocaine have been jailed for a total of more than 50 years. Xylazine also called "tranq" and "zombie drug" is showing up more and more in the illicit drug supply across the state. The latest trend in the fentanyl crisis is one of the most disturbing to lawmakers and law enforcement: kids are being poisoned. Use at least 8 characters, an uppercase and a lowercase letter, and a number or symbol. Luton drug stash takeaway boss has jail term reduced. Patients on xylazine are caught between drug treatment centers that cant care for the wounds, and medical centers that arent designed to help with drug-related injuries. Luton Crown Court heard that cannabis was for sale on a 24-hour-a day basis, with the defendants working in shift patterns. A warrant was carried out at his address in October 2020, and officers located a loaded handgun with a suppressor in the loft of the property, as well as ammunition and ecstasy worth almost 7,000. (That) just doesnt work., My best friend had a substance-use disorder, she said. love, Do you feel safe where you live? This has caused people to question whether naloxone often sold as Narcan works against xylazine. Chevy Chase, MD 20815. This is in addition to the 2.1 million already pledged towards the running of the operation this year. | Disclaimer. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. ", Tributes paid to 'beloved' Beds councillor who died a week after his wife passed, "Patrick was one of the nicest people you could wish to meet and lived out his values of service to the community, making a difference in so many lives. Moores controversial nominee for the Public Service Commission withdraws, Key component to Md. New GOP-led House is demanding answers, DEA reports 150% jump in seizures of fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Copyright 2022 by WTOP. Jailing them, the judge said: This conspiracy to supply cannabis was well organised. Copyright 1997 - 2023 NewsNow Publishing Limited. Luton Crown Court [] Go deeper: Republicans said Biden wasn't doing enough on the border. We want to take out the major players involved in drugs supply and its associated violence locally, which we believe will have a huge impact in terms of protecting vulnerable people, as well as our communities more widely, from violence and exploitation. Swansea City 0-2 Luton Town: Campbell and Morris give Hatters first win of new Steve Bruce says Albion must show fight, character and determination against a strong and New Luton & Dunstable Hospital system makes it easier to book children's blood testsGet Luton Airport wins customer service awardBin collections disrupted after major fire at Luton waste Gutter cleaning is an essential part of keeping your house clean. Bedfordshire Police responded to reports in January of a group of men armed with knives entering a property in Blenheim Crescent, Luton. A takeaway owner who stored 1.5m worth of cocaine in his shop has had his prison sentence reduced by judges. ". Signing up to the newsletter is simple. A drug dealer who flaunted his illicit wealth by pouring Champagne over Rolex watches in a nightclub has been jailed for more than 15 years. | Seven-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard set a franchise record when he scored a career-best 71 points in the Portland Trail Blazers' 131-114 victory over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night, but . "Fentanyl is everywhere. Leaders Mohammed Irfan Khan, 35, of Dunstable Road, and Mohammed Waqas, 29, of Shervington Grove, were each jailed for 25 years at Luton Crown Court after being convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine. In July 2020, police arrested Bashir at his place of work and found two Encrochat devices and half a kilogram of cocaine in his staff locker. The DART: How much will Luton Airports new station-transfer shuttle cost? "Should he choose not to comply with the order, he will face a further spell behind bars in addition to the time he is currently serving. These State of the Union guests lost their son to it. Please try different keywords. POLITICO POLITICO, 40 Inspirational Nature Quotes Celebrating Earth's Natural Beauty YourTango, Reaction | Nathan Jones on point against Huddersfield | News lutontown.co.uk. Other possible sources of the drug are diversion from veterinary clinics and the black market online, Burnett said. A Luton drug dealer who posted photos of himself with a gun on Facebook has been jailed after a police found a gun and 7,000 worth of ecstasy at his address. The rapper missed a court-ordered drug test and then tested positive for fentanyl. Local News, Luton drug dealer ordered to repay 190,000 or face prison. The . In 2022, the DEA seized more than 50 million poisoned pills. Francis McConville, 37, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after being arrested during an investigation in August 2019 which found he was working with several other drug dealers to distribute kilogrammes of cocaine at a time. At a Luton Crown Court hearing on Friday (6 January), the court determined that he should repay an initial 189,966.35, this being the current total value of assets. An audacious heist that stunned Britain. Moores minimum wage proposal faces legislative hurdles, Zombie drug challenging response to Maryland opioid crisis, No more digging for change: Dulles Toll Road goes cashless. Cleansing your gutter system regularly can help prevent leaks, rot, and pose threats to your overall well-being. Kozons role in the business was as a driver and custodian for Holub. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The opioid epidemic in Maryland has entered a new and uncertain phase. "Every day, 294 people die from drug poisonings," she said. It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Philip on Thursday 23rd. The shift system meant there was always someone on duty., She said a considerable amount of cannabis had been supplied with buying and selling on a commercial scale.. Relevance is automatically assessed so some headlines not qualifying as Luton news might appear - please feel free to contact us regarding any persistent issues. All rights reserved. From large metropolitan areas to rural America, no community is safe from this poison.". Detectives worked with the UK Border Force to intercept parcels containing around 50,000 of cannabis which Ashley Lewin was attempting to collect from various addresses around the towns. Please ensure your password has at least 8 characters, an uppercase and a lowercase letter, and a number or symbol. In court, Khan pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a prohibited firearm and five counts of drug dealing offences. study in the Drug and Alcohol Dependence Journal, Lawmakers pledge action amid reports TikTok is fueling increase in stolen cars, Maryland Gov. We know that we face a significant challenge from organised crime in Bedfordshire but our communities should be assured that we are on the front foot in tackling it and making our county safer. Like WTOP on Facebook and follow WTOP on Twitter and Instagram to engage in conversation about this article and others. "It's pretty scary," Maryland's newly appointed S . We abide by the Editors Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. Deadly doses can move in tiny quantities and are sometimes shipped by mail. Bedfordshire crime: Woman dies after recently released Bedford prisoner breaks her leg in robbery, Luton man punched in face and threatened with knife over noise complaint, Woman left with serious injuries after dog attack on residential road in Luton. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. It is frequently mixed in with other drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin. Two men described as leaders were jailed for 25 years each at Luton Crown Court, while two "trusted couriers" received 18 and 10 years. The Luton gang imported cocaine into the UK to distribute to gangs across the country. This makes treating xylazine-related health issues difficult, both in the short and long term. We will not share your email address with any third parties. Operation Costello is the largest operation in Bedfordshire Polices history to combat organised crime gangs, going after the major players involved in the importation and distribution of drugs locally. Xylazine fits into a whole series of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) that are defining a new phase of the opioid epidemic. Video, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, Footage shows car hit lorry in 100mph police chase, Mel B: I wouldnt call police over domestic abuse, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, Boy in tent ends three-year charity challenge, Covid origin likely China lab incident - FBI chief, Twitter back after two-hour outage affected tweets, House prices see biggest annual fall in over 10 years. The judge said there were undoubtedly people higher up in the drug supply chain who have not been caught. All served with a smile. "We're really pleased that the group will now be spending such a lengthy amount of time behind bars and we hope this sends a strong message to other organised crime groups operating across the eastern region who think they can operate above the law. The drugs seized during the operation had a value of 5m, Clockwise from top left: Mohammed Aakil, Mohammed Irfan, Rumel Hussain, Mohammed Waqas. Four drug smuggling "peddlers of misery" caught by police after a 5m cocaine seizure have been jailed. "ERSOU's Financial Investigation Team was able to use its specialist skills and expertise to ensure the McConville was ordered to repay as much of his ill-gotten gains as possible. Cash seized by police investigating the gang. Advertisement "It is thedeadliest drug threat our country has ever faced,"Drug Enforcement Agency Administrator Anne Milgram said in a Senate hearing Feb. 15. All served with a smile. Passengers are advised to check their service in advance to avoid disruption. We are determined to attack this criminality, but we do need our communities to help by being our eyes and ears and tell us if they have any concerns or see anything suspicious. Placing an individual on their side once they start breathing also helps, Burnett said. Officers went on to seize designer handbags, jewellery and cash from his home address. February 27, 2023 - 4:06 pm. More than six years behind bars for two Luton drug dealers https://lutonnewsdesk.blogspot.com/2021/11/more-than-six-years-behind-bars-for-two.html All Rights Reserved. By clicking 'Create Account and Subscribe' you agree to us creating an account for you and subscribing you to our newsletter in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Legal Notice.Emails, which may be sent daily or less frequently, may include marketing elements. Some of them have taken a pill for the first time not knowing it's counterfeit and full of fentanyl and have died. The Luton gang imported cocaine into the UK to distribute to gangs across the country. On Wednesday, February 3, 2021, officers carried out warrants at three addresses in Luton and seized a number of phones, drugs and a quantity of cash. cost to fix reverse polarity outlet first response indent line. He was arrested on the same day as Bashir and approximately 20,000 of cash was seized from the business premises. Advertisement ", Two Bedfordshire cinemas at risk of closing as Cineworld fights to secure financial takeover, The Bedfordshire cinemas are at risk as Cineworld has revealed its challenges in to securing a takeover, Murder investigation launched after body found in Beds house, A man in his thirties has been arrested following the incident, Bedfordshire named as one of the 'least' dangerous places to live in the UK, Some places on the list of dangerous places may come as a surprise, Man who left bag of waste next to bin in Beds village fined, All the train lines set to be affected by rail strikes in March. Bashir, 37, of Stratford Road, Luton, was jailed for 16 years and three months. Your town in your pocket. 20,000 seized by police in raids will be given to local charities helping homeless people, families and ex offenders. In the case of an overdose, naloxone reverses the effects of an opiate in the body. To support our battle against organised crime, we rely on information and concerns from our residents, so if you have any information or concerns in your area, please continue to report it and help us crack down on organised crime.. Listen to a gripping reimagining of a classic 1938 stage thriller, Emma Willis shares how she's still fighting hard to combat her low self-esteem. These warrants are the latest in Bedfordshire Polices response to tackling county lines, where drugs gangs typically sell their products using a dedicated phone line. If history is any indication, the . kiran jethwa wife sarah jethwa. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Were talking about pretty big wounds here exposing both bone and actual muscles, tendons very, very significant deep wounds, said Dr. Malik Burnett, the director of the Center for Harm Reduction Services at the Maryland Department of Health. Khan, 22, had posted photos of himself on Facebook in possession of a firearm, as well as photos of himself holding a large wad of cash, READ MORE: Woman dies after recently released Bedford prisoner breaks her leg in robbery. Around 3.6 million of special grant funding has recently been awarded to Operation Costello by the government to tackle the extraordinary challenges posed locally by organised crime. 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 conspiracy. Insofar as you prohibit particular substances, youre certainly not going to stop the illicit demand for said substances. Congressional Republicans have tied the fentanyl crisis to a surge of illegal border crossings, but Democrats say that is misinformation that conflates migrants seeking asylum with a dangerous influx of fentanyl trafficking. When someone dies after taking one of the counterfeit pills, Milgram callsthem drug poisonings, not overdoses, because people are tricked into consuming fentanyl. He received a jail term of 12 years and seven months for both counts, which will be served concurrently. He also posted photos of himself with a suspiciously large amount of cash, To stay up to date with all the latest news from across Bedfordshire sign up to our free newsletter for daily updates and all the latest breaking news. Alternatively, report information to Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111 or the Crimestoppers website. The Rapper Kodak Black has been ordered into drug rehab by a judge after failing his last drug test. 3:48 am Written by f4heo October 5, 2022 Despite not knowing the exact source of xylazine, the reason why its popping up so much is clear for Burnett. VideoThe life of an aristocrat-turned-pirate, Catherine Cawood is facing her past. It is nearly impossible to tell if street drugs are laced with fentanyl unless they are tested, according to the CDC. Katy Hancock, 32, suffered a fatal brain aneurysm - or bleed - while leading a fitness . VideoAn audacious heist that stunned Britain, The life of an aristocrat-turned-pirate. These specialist devices use an encrypted text message application which allows the user to take a particular username or handle to exchange secure messages with other users. This is why it is critical to always call 911 for help in addition to giving naloxone.. PC Jordan Lancaster, who investigated the drug offences, added: "A lot of hard work has gone into both of these investigations. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. They also said China and Mexico need to cooperate more with the U.S. to reverse the increase in fentanyl deaths. 5425 Wisconsin Ave Since Operation Costello was launched a year ago, 51 people have been arrested and almost 100 warrants carried out, with nearly 100 kilos of Class A drugs and more than 1 million in assets seized in Luton by Bedfordshire Police and the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit. Neither had previous convictions. You can unsubscribe whenever you want. And people are going to intentionally innovate their way around the prohibitions that youre creating.. Image released of missing woman after body found in Biggleswade, A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday February 25 and remains in police custody, Man who left bag of waste next to bin in Biddenham fined 400, Bedford Borough Council said evidence was found that led to the man being tracked down and accepting a fixed penalty notice, Schools in Bedfordshire: Five Bedfordshire schools given worst possible Ofsted rating, Four of the five schools were flagged for special measures, Tens of thousands of people could be owed up to 6,000 after DWP error, says Martin Lewis, More than 300 homes approved as part of new Luton development, Improvements are set to be made to surrounding roads as part of the development, Valentine's Day collision in Flitwick leaves moped rider with 'life-changing' injuries. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. A deal that changed their lives VideoA deal that changed their lives 2023 BBC. A Bedfordshire Police investigation seized around 250,000 worth of drugs and 150,000 in cash, To stay up to date with all the latest news from across Bedfordshire sign up to our free newsletter for daily updates and all the latest breaking news. "Countless more people are poisoned and survive. Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) started collecting and testing drug paraphernalia in Maryland last October through a new surveillance program called RAD, rapid analysis of drugs. The property has been secured and a three-month partial closure order was granted at Luton Magistrates Court on Tuesday, February 2. However, fentanylis often hidden among legal goods and trafficked by U.S. citizens driving cars and tractor trailers. Get the day's top headlines delivered to your inbox. Who was St David, the patron saint of Wales? Luton drug dealers who ran a 24/7 operation selling cannabis are jailed, Arm was hanging off attackers sentenced to a total of 47 years, Police seeking information on series of ice-cream van fires, Police release details of missing woman after body found in Biggleswade, Bridge to future growth in Biggleswade reaches new milestone, New Chancellor of University of Bedfordshire named. November 4, 2022. November 4, 2022. Michael Smith Mullan Frank LAMBERT (Michael Smith Mullan) Of Luton. When police broke up the 18-month operation last September, they discovered more than 40,000 incoming and outgoing calls and text messages relating to 1 gram, 2 gram and 3.5 gram deals. The drug hasnt been formally studied in humans, making it impossible for scientists and doctors to know how xylazine works in the human body. By Stewart Carr 2nd Jul 2021, 3:34pm - 2 min read Police detectives seized more than 10,000 in cash as well as large amounts of cannabis from an organised crime gang in the Biscot Road area of the town. Click here to sign-in and subscribe via a link sent to your email. 2023 WTOP. Over 150 Americans die every day from overdoses related to fentanyl and synthetic opioids. HUNTINGTON, W.Va. Another deadly drug known as Xylazine, the "Zombie drug," or "tranq" has now made its way . October 2, 2022. It is highly addictive and deadly, even in the smallest quantities. And this new set of NPS is just the latest leg in a race to create drugs faster than they can be outlawed. Officers seized a number of phones and sim cards which are believed to be used in county lines drugs dealing, which has been linked to the exploitation of vulnerable children in the town. Xylazine also called tranq and zombie drug is showing up more and more in the illicit drug supply across the state. Officers who carried out a series of anti-drugs raids for Bedfordshire Police this morning have so far found 15,000 in cash as well as three imitation fire arms and a bag of white powder. Azeem Khan had posted this picture on social media, alerting police of a potential firearms offence. The drugs telltale signs are gruesome wounds near the injection sight. Fentanyl typically enters the U.S. from Mexico through ports of entry in low concentration, high-volume loads, according to the DEA. Three people have been charged after police found cocaine with a street value of more than 200,000. These sentences will be served concurrently. Want the latest Bedfordshire news direct to your inbox? Border Patrol and the DEA say the overwhelming majority of fentanyl is trafficked through legal ports of entry by U.S. citizens driving cars and commercial vehicles, hiding the illicit drugs among other goods. Holub, 38, of Napier Road, Luton, was jailed for 16 years and three months. Chris Morrison and John Nevin are the latest high-level players involved in organised crime to be jailed by Bedfordshire Police's specialist Operation Costello. Cash courier caught carrying nearly half a million pounds of drug Night out clubbing in Bedford turned into rape nightmare, Christmas Tree Festival at St Pauls Church Bedford, Appeal after cyclist seriously injured in Kempston collision. Biden administration officials told senators last week how the fentanyl pipeline increases the challenges they face in stopping the surge of deaths. A stop and search in Hounslow led to his arrest in July 2020. Det Insp Trevor Davidson said: "This well-established and dangerous organised crime group was operating a wholesale drugs supply network at the very top end, dealing in multi-kilogram batches of import quality cocaine. Since then, the prevalence of xylazine in illicit drug supply has more than doubled in Maryland. Detective Chief Inspector Louisa Glynn, Bedfordshire Polices tactical lead for imported county lines, said: This is our latest crack down on county lines and drug dealing as wecontinue to make Bedfordshire a difficult place for organised criminal gangs to operate. "We will also continue our enquiries in the future, to ensure that should he come into any money or assets, these are also used to satisfy the outstanding amount.". All this information is fed into police intelligence systems and can help officers get a better understanding of organised crime. N.B. A man who attempted to import tens of thousands of pounds worth of cannabis from the USA into Luton, Dunstable and Houghton Regis has been jailed. Following the initial operation, investigators from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) established that McConville had earned 241,000 by selling the drug.