A high-ranking drug dealer from Watford has been convicted after running a group distributing “vast amounts” of class A drugs.

Mohammed Waqas Khan, of Princes Avenue, Watford, led an organised crime group based in Watford and Luton which was responsible for wholesale distribution of cocaine and heroin nation-wide.

According to the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU), which investigated Khan, it involved a hierarchy of criminals including a lieutenant, couriers, and subordinates who stored drugs and firearms.

Watford Observer: • Photo of cash shared between the organised crime group's members.• Photo of cash shared between the organised crime group's members. (Image: ERSOU)

Messages indicated that the 35-year-old’s group regularly distributed up to 100kg a day.

Police say that Khan believed himself beyond the reach of UK law enforcement, due to living in Dubai, but he returned to his family home in March 2020 due to Covid lockdown.

At around the same time, Operation Venetic was launched which uncovered thousands of message exchanges by criminals using the EncroChat communications tool and was able to provide a picture of his role coordinating the group, under the handle Bigpablito.com.

In August 2020, police carried out raids which lead to the simultaneous arrest of Waqas Khan and three associates from Luton.

Watford Observer: • Kilo-sized blocks of class A drugs seized by investigators.• Kilo-sized blocks of class A drugs seized by investigators. (Image: ERSOU)

Several kilogrammes of cocaine and heroin, cash, six firearms and 180 rounds of ammunition were recovered.

During a seven-week trial which ended on Tuesday (19 March), trusted drug importer Michael Orishadare, 31, of New Hythe Lane, Aylesford in Kent, was also found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin.

Waqas Khan was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and ketamine, possession of firearms with intent to cause fear of violence, and possession of ammunition.

The pair joined five other members of the group who were previously convicted, including two who have already been jailed for 13-and-a-half and eight years respectively.

Watford Observer: • Image of several handguns later seized by investigators.• Image of several handguns later seized by investigators. (Image: ERSOU)

Those not yet sentenced, including Waqas Khan, are due to appear at Luton Crown Court on Friday, April 26.

Detective chief inspector Steve Dowty described the operation as “one of the most significant” the region’s organised crime unit has ever been involved in.

He added: “We are delighted that these incredibly dangerous men will be behind bars for a considerable time, and no longer present a threat to our communities.

“This OCG were purely motivated by profit and greed and paid absolutely no regard to the damage their activities were causing.

“Messages uncovered by detectives indicated they were potentially willing to kidnap and even murder those who got in their way, which just shows how vital it was to apprehend them.”