Three people charged following drug raids

Three people have been charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, following raids carried out across East London by the City of London Police.

Yesterday (Sunday 6 August), seven warrants were conducted by City of London Police’s Serious Organised Crime Team at properties used by the group. It is suspected that the gang were cuckooing these premises, as well as using children as young as 15 years old to store, prepare and deal drugs on their behalf.

Approximately £25,000 worth of drugs and a quantity of cash were recovered, as well as a number of Zombie knives, a sawn-off shot gun, a silencer, a friction lock baton and ammunition.

The three people are charged with two offences of conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and conspiracy to supply Heroin and have been remanded into custody.

They are:

[A] Mohammed Bakye, 44, of Dagenham.

[B] Naseem Ahmed, 21, of Whitechapel.

[C] 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Detective Inspector Anne Medlycott from the City of London Police said:

“This is a significant breakthrough in our fight against organised crime networks that deal drugs in the City. These criminals thought nothing of threatening and using violence and of exploiting children and other vulnerable persons to further their drugs operation, profiting from ruining lives.

"Taking these individuals and their drugs and weapons off the street and protecting the public is a top priority for the City of London Police."

Cuckooing is just part of the drug-selling process where gangs use a house where they can store and distribute the drugs. They exploit vulnerable people, including children and those with mental health or addiction issues, by recruiting them to distribute the drugs.

There are several signs to look out for that may indicate someone is a victim of cuckooing:

• Frequent visitors at unsociable hours.
• Changes in your neighbour’s daily routine.
• Unusual smells coming from a property.
• Suspicious or unfamiliar vehicles outside an address.

If you’re concerned about drug-related crime in your area, or think someone may be a victim of drug exploitation, please call us on 101. If it's an emergency, please call 999.