An illiterate goatherder from northern Iraq was discovered dealing Class A drugs on the streets of Aberystwyth. Hawre Ahmed, part of an organised crime group, used asylum seekers as couriers and dealers, operating through car washes and barber shops as fronts. Ahmed, along with fellow Kurd Karwan Jabari, were part of a gang flooding the Welsh town with cocaine and cannabis.
The gang, which included a dozen members already jailed, was investigated for shipping large quantities of drugs to Aberystwyth. Three leaders, including Toana Ahmad from the West Midlands, were involved, with two still on the run believed to have fled to Iraq. The drug conspiracy’s value exceeded £400,000, with one courier alone transporting 3kg of cocaine into the town through numerous trips.
Swansea Crown Court revealed the gang’s county lines-like operation, using multiple properties and guesthouses in Aberystwyth. They employed trusted operatives and asylum seekers, using businesses as fronts. Hawre Ahmed, residing in Wakefield, and Karwan Jabari, from Northampton, were sentenced to four and three years in prison, respectively, for conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs. Ahmed, illiterate and a former goatherder seeking a better life, was caught with 41 wraps of cocaine after just five days in Aberystwyth.
Jabari, a trusted courier, made car journeys between Swansea, the West Midlands, and Aberystwyth, managing drug lines in the town. Their barristers highlighted personal struggles and the efforts to reform while in prison. The sophisticated operation embedded dealers in Aberystwyth, using couriers to transport drugs and cash. Many recruited asylum seekers were granted leave to remain in the UK, participating in the gang’s illicit activities.
Despite the gang’s sophisticated setup, law enforcement dismantled the operation, bringing Ahmed and Jabari to justice. The case serves as a stark reminder of the lengths organised crime groups go to exploit vulnerable individuals and communities for their illegal activities.