A drug gang headed by a dealer who was caught during a trip to luxury store Harrods have been jailed for a total of 31 years.
The seven-strong mob worked under the names Dr Greengo and Rodger Dodger raking in the cash by mainly selling narcotics via Snapchat. Kingpin Kashif Sadiq and his clan were busted after undercover police posed as customers looking to score drugs.
Sadiq, 32, was snared in August 2021 while trying to access a safety deposit box he had at Harrods in London's Knightsbridge, where he had hidden just some of his ill-gotten gains.
Detectives went on to find £282,350 in cash, £63,000 of gold bars and £140,200 of Rolex and other luxury watches. The seven today returned to the High Court in Glasgow to be sentenced by judge Lord Clark.
They had all pleaded guilty in August to a charge of being involved in serious organised crime in 2021 in the city and East Kilbride, Lanarkshire.
Sadiq was jailed for six years and nine months. John Robertson, 27, was locked up for four years with Peter Davies, 23, sentenced to four and a half years.
Jamshaid Yaqoob, 38, got three years, Adam Ahmed, 24, four years and Jordan Devine jailed for five years. Finally, Asad Raja, 28, also got four years.
The sophisticated operation was set up like most businesses including online adverts for promotions and "special offers". Sadiq even had a top with the 'company" Dr Greengo logo.
Prosecutor Paul Harvey explained: "Drugs would be supplied to members of the public who could place orders over social media principally through Snapchat."
Customers could only access the "services" if they had what was described as a "referee" to back up who they were. The Dr Greengo account mainly dealt in cannabis in various forms including cookies.
Rodger Dodger was involved in "party drugs" such as cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine. Bank accounts were opened for payments to be made.
Drugs would be supplied either through the post, via a pick up service or dropped off. Sadiq told one man he met: "Just call me the doctor." But, in May 2021, police became aware of the massive drugs operation.
Four officers went undercover - one posing as a customer got access having been vouched for by a medical student. Mr Harvey: "The three (phone) numbers for the Dr Greengo services have been attributed to Kashif Sadiq."
The officers - who made a series of purchases to help catch the gang - uncovered its "broader methods of advertising and recruitment".
A Snapchat "story" - also put on the Telegram social media app - stated: "Anyone home all day - wanna make the easiest £80 ever. Shout me."
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Sadiq was helped by Jordan Devine, who was his right hand man in the Rodger Dodger operation. This side of the drugs business worked in the same way as Dr Greengo. The hearing was told police soon made their move on Sadiq and his clan.
Sadiq was arrested at Harrods - he was also found to have safety boxes in Edinburgh and Glasgow's Pollokshields. Mr Harvey: "The total cash seized at the boxes was £913,310. The total value of gold, jewellery and watches was £269,045."
The court heard it was found that in one day in June 2021, Sadiq had paid £8,150 for Louis Vuitton items in Harrods as well as £1,300 at clubs and hotels in London.
Devine meantime also splashed the cash including £3,200 at Manchester's designer Selfridges store and a £522 bill at London's swanky Nobu restaurant.
It further emerged that in a seven-month period in 2021, a total of £174,702 was paid into one bank account. Another had £159,905 going in with a third £136,100. At the earlier hearing, Mr Harvey explained the roles of Sadiq's other associates.
Robertson was paid for his help in the Dr Greengo operation. Davies also benefitted by organising bank accounts to be used. Yaqoob dropped off cannabis and collected cash while Ahmed stored drugs and helped arrange sales.
Raja was also part of the Dr Greengo set up. Sadiq's lawyer John Scullion KC today said the drugs set-up appeared "innovative", but there was also a "a degree of naivety" about it.
Brian McConnachie KC, defending Robertson - who broke his neck after falling from a balcony in Barcelona this year - got involved for "financial gain".
Solicitor advocate Ross Yuill said Davies had only first actually met members of the gang in person when they appeared in court in August. Alan MacLeod, defending Yaqoob, told the court he became involved after the pandemic affected his job as a taxi driver.
Thomas Ross KC meantime said Ahmed "had brought no honour to his respectable family" by both taking and dealing in drugs. Lawyer Billy Lavelle told the judge Devine realised he had "ruined his life" by turning to crime.
Tony Graham KC had asked for Raja not to be locked up due to a number of factors including the time scale of his involvement being less. Sentencing, Lord Clark told the gang: "Serious organised crime damages the very fabric of our society.
"The supply of controlled drugs blights our communities and the wellbeing of individuals." Addressing drug boss Sadiq, the judge said: "You headed the Dr Greengo and Rodger Dodger operations. You profited significantly from this."
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