Birmingham Taxi Driver Jailed for Role in Cocaine and Firearms Gang
A Birmingham taxi driver has been sentenced for his involvement in a drug and firearms operation
Birmingham, UK, Cocaine, Firearms, Gang, NCA
Birmingham: A taxi driver from the city has been sentenced for his part in a gang that dealt cocaine and firearms. This all came to light after a lengthy investigation by the National Crime Agency.
Safdar Pervez, 57, was caught acting as a courier for the gang, using a secret handle on an encrypted chat platform. The gang was led by Carl O’Flaherty, who got a hefty 17-year sentence.
The operation was part of a bigger crackdown on encrypted communications. Between 2019 and late 2020, the gang was busy buying up loads of cocaine and chemicals to make amphetamines.
They would then take these drugs to places like Leeds and Bradford, where they had members who would process and cut the drugs for sale.
Recently, four members of this gang were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court after a trial. Pervez got 11 years for moving large amounts of drugs and cash around the north of England.
One of his regular stops was County Durham, where he delivered kilos of cut cocaine to a top customer. Meanwhile, another gang member, Daryll Hall, was sentenced to 15 years but is currently on the run.
Two other gang members also received long sentences for their roles in the operation, with one even trying to extract cocaine from a massive amount of oil.