Drug gang convicted over offences in Slough and Maidenhead
Five people found guilty for a string of offences including false imprisonment
Last updated 14th Sep 2021
Five people have been convicted of a string of offences relating to false imprisonment, blackmail, drugs supply and money laundering in Slough and Maidenhead.
The offences were against two separate victims.
List of convicted
22-year-old Lennon Gomes of Shaftesbury Avenue in Feltham was found guilty by unanimous jury verdict of three counts of false imprisonment, two counts of blackmail, and two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs (heroin and cocaine). He also pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cannabis in a trial at Reading Crown Court, which concluded on Friday.
27-year-old Mustafa Mohamud of Cottage Road in Islington, was found guilty of one count of money laundering.
19-year-old Anne-Marie Garland of Aylsham Close in Reading, was convicted of one count of encouraging the commission of offences.
22-year-old Syed Shah of Priory Green in Islington, was found guilty of two counts of false imprisonment and two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs (heroin and cocaine).
28-year-old Naveed Mahmood of Basildene Road in Hounslow, was found guilty of one count of false imprisonment and one count of blackmail against one victim.
The offences
The convictions relate to two incidents, which occurred on 22 April and 5 December 2020.
The two victims were dealing class A drugs for a gang based out of west London which had been branching out into the Home Counties, using County Drugs Lines.
They had been coerced into doing so, and were, on occasions, held against their will and subjected to threats of violence.
In the first incident in April, both victims sustained ABH level injuries, while in the second incident, one of the victims was subjected to threats of violence, but was otherwise unhurt.
Following an investigation, Shah was charged on 23 December 2020, Mahmood on 22 January 2021, Gomes on 12 February, Mohamud on 9 April and Garland on 12 April.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Rob Gibson, based at Maidenhead police station, said:
“This string of offences against two young victims, who were effectively groomed into a life of crime, were utterly horrendous.
“Both victims were vulnerable young men, and were coerced into drug dealing by an organised crime group intent on bringing their drugs into the Thames Valley.
“After a trial, all five offenders were convicted by unanimous jury verdict of various offences, and they will now be sentenced accordingly.
“We are committed to removing the serious issue of drug dealing from our communities, making the Thames Valley a hostile place for county lines dealers.
“They often target the most vulnerable people in our society, and all five will now be sentenced accordingly.”
Gomes, Mahmood, Mohamud, Garland and Shah will return to Reading Crown Court for sentencing on 29 October.