Maidenhead drug dealer arrested at Heathrow airport jailed
A drug trafficker who was arrested at Heathrow airport as he tried to flee to Turkey has been jailed for almost five years.
Mohammed Asif, 22, was sentenced to four years and 10 months in prison after being arrested with nearly £ 100,000 of drugs in Maidenhead
It was established that the concessionaire had played an “important” role in drug operations in the area after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin, cocaine, crack and cannabis.
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Asif, from Sheraton Drive in High Wycombe, exploited a vulnerable man by using his Woodlands Park apartment to hide his huge stash of drugs, known as the cuckoo clock.
Speaking at Reading Crown Court today (Friday), prosecutor Nick Saunders said: “Police have come to an apartment in Maidenhead following reports of a cuckoo man.
“When they arrived, they saw Mr. Asif trying to escape through different windows. By the time they got to the apartment, he had escaped.
“He was arrested at Heathrow Airport while attempting to board a one-way flight to Istanbul. The ticket had been purchased the same day.
The court heard how, when they entered Maidenhead’s apartment, officers discovered large amounts of drugs, including a quarter of a kilogram of heroin, over 3 kg of cannabis, several blocks of cocaine and several crack packages – with a total street value estimated at £ 98,000.
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Mr Saunders suggested that the presence of blocks of cocaine packages suggested that Asif had a “leading role” in a drug smuggling operation with “sources close to regional importation and distribution”.
Although this was not shown at the hearing, the court also heard that police recovered a video of Asif holding and throwing large wads of cash.
In mitigation, Asif’s defense attorney Matthew Pardue argued that his client did not play a leading role in the transaction.
He said: “He played an important role, but to say that he was dealing, organizing and selling on a commercial scale is just not supported by the evidence.
“The point of being in a leading role is that you are away from operations, you certainly don’t get in your car and sell drugs out the window.”
After taking the time to reflect on his verdict, Recorder Stuart Ritchie agreed that Asif had an important role, rather than a leading role in drug operations.
Speaking to the accused, who was released from prison via video link, recorder Ritchie said: “A significant financial benefit was expected. I have seen evidence that you are celebrating with substantial sums of money.
“It was pretty clear that you understood the scale of the operation. ”
In sentencing, recorder Ritchie gave Asif four years and ten months for each of the Class A drug offenses and 18 months for the cannabis offense.
These sentences will be executed simultaneously, which means that the total length of his sentence is four years and ten months.