Five members of a drug trafficking gang known as the ‘Turk Line’ have been sentenced after being convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs across the UK. The group’s operation ran in Coventry and other cities, including Birmingham and Manchester, between December 2022 and August 2023.
The gang, led by Jyad Mohammedi, Zewar Younes, Sarwat Ahmed, Walid Houssain, and Shahram Karimi, used vehicles registered under the false name of ‘Florentin Iosif’ to distribute crack cocaine and heroin. They took extensive measures to conceal their activities, including using multiple cars for delivery and falsifying registration details to avoid detection.
Despite being stopped multiple times, members of the group gave false identities and tried to mask their involvement in drug supply. The group sent over 8,000 bulk messages advertising drugs for sale, using a dedicated phone line known as the Turk Line to manage orders. The operation was well-organized, with the group using safehouses, laundering money through businesses, and working across several UK cities.
The investigation intensified with the County Lines Taskforce, culminating in a raid on an address in Coventry on 23 August 2023. There, the authorities seized drugs, cash, and mobile phones linked to the Turk Line. Following this, the key players in the gang were arrested, and their phones, along with text messages and CCTV footage, helped to prove their involvement.
Sentences were handed down to the following members of the Turk Line gang:
Jyad Mohammedi, aged 23 of Mansel Street, Coventry, was jailed for 11 years and 7 months for conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.
Zewar Younes, aged 31 of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 9 and a half years for conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.
Sarwat Ahmed, aged 22 of Eastwood, Manchester, received 9 and a half years for conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.
Walid Houssain, aged 23 of no fixed abode, was jailed for 9 years and 11 months for conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.
Shahram Karimi, aged 23 of The Old Yard, Coventry, was sentenced to 3 years for possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin.
Detective Constable David Cockbill of the County Lines Taskforce praised the work of the officers involved, saying: “We won’t stop in our fight against organised crime and will continue to remove drugs off our streets and bring those involved to justice.”
The authorities have urged the public to continue providing information to help combat such criminal operations. The sentences serve as a warning to others involved in drug dealing, particularly those operating through County Lines networks.
