A major cocaine operation has been dismantled after police seized drugs worth over £10 million in Birmingham. Three men were sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison for their roles in one of the UK’s “top-end” cocaine networks.
On April 10, officers from the West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) observed a suspicious exchange on Allman Road, Erdington. Adam Vorster, 41, of no fixed address, met Mohamoud Mahamoud, 29, from West Drayton, Greater London, as he exited a white Peugeot Partner van. Mahamoud grabbed a heavy black holdall from the van and placed it into the boot of a silver Honda CRV driven by 43-year-old Benjamin Holt of Horam, East Sussex.
The trio was immediately arrested after officers discovered 21kg of cocaine blocks in the holdall, with an estimated street value of £2.1 million. Further investigation led to the discovery of five more bags in the van, containing an additional 81kg of cocaine, bringing the total value of the haul to £10.2 million.
The wholesale value of the drugs ranged from £2.3 to £3.5 million, but the street value was significantly higher. According to the West Midlands ROCU, this operation severely disrupted one of the UK’s top cocaine supply chains. The seizure of such a large quantity of drugs has made a significant impact on the illegal drug trade in the region.
The three men faced charges of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. At Birmingham Crown Court on November 1, all three men pleaded guilty. Holt was sentenced to 13 years and two months in prison, marking a major victory in the fight against drug trafficking.