11:19AM, Monday 28 April 2014
A total of 18 people involved in a drugs gang have been sentenced.
The latest of the defendants were sentenced at Reading Crown Court (RCC) last week following a number of operations under Operation Saffron by Thames Valley Police.
The police's aim was to disrupt the 'Ace Crew', an organised crime group known for selling crack cocaine and heroin in the Oxford Road area of Reading.
The operation began in February 2013 and in October 8, 170 police officers executed 22 warrants at addresses in Reading.
They arrested and subsequently charged 17 suspects, who all pleaded guilty.
Earlier this month Abdul Khan, 28, formerly of Eskin Close, Tilehurst, was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in prison for conspiring to supply a class A drug (heroin). He was charged after 2kg of heroin was found at an address in Reading. He pleaded guilty at RCC on January 14.
He was linked to 25 known drug deals during the operation and was identified as a professional drug dealer.
Waheed Khan, 21, from Parkside Rd, Reading, pleaded guilty on January 14 to conspiracy supply class A drugs (cocaine) and was sentenced to six years in prison on April 23 at RCC.
Harry Carmichael, 24, formerly of Auckland Rd, Reading, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine) and was sentenced to 11 years on March 31.
Adeel Tahir, 31, of Westbrook Road, Reading, appeared at RCC on February 21 and was sentenced to five years for possession of a firearm – a sawn off shotgun . He pleaded guilty at RCC on January 24. He was also sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice. Both sentences were to run consecutively.
Detective Inspector Bruce Riddell, leading the operation, said: “The sentences handed down to these people have been the result of coordinated work by a large number of officers across the Thames Valley area.
"As a result of the operation, resulting intelligence suggests the “Ace Crew” is no longer the force it once was."
Others sentenced in connection with Operation Saffron include:
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