Dealers must pay back drug proceeds

Abid Shabir, pictured right, of Victoria Avenue, Wellington, was jailed for five years at Shrewsbury Crown Court in February after admitting 10 charges of supplying class A drugs.

The 28-year-old was arrested during Operation Jigsaw, a major undercover crackdown on drug dealers by Telford & Wrekin police.

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at the court yesterday heard Shabir had earned up to £100,000 from selling crack cocaine and heroin.

But Janet Pitt-Lewis, prosecuting, said only £25,000 was recoverable.

Denis Desmond, for Shabir, said police had full access to his client's bank accounts and he had enough to pay all but £2,600 immediately.

Judge Robin Onions gave Shabir 12 months to pay the outstanding amount or face an extra three months in jail.

Another Telford man, Mazir Khan, was ordered to pay back £3,000 he is estimated to have earned from drug dealing.

The 22-year-old, of Windsor Road, Arleston, admitted four charges of supplying crack cocaine and heroin when he appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court earlier this year.

He was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Judge Onions said Khan was a low-level drug dealer who acted as a runner to feed his own addiction. He said Khan had made £3,000, but the amount was recoverable.

Judge Onions gave Khan six months to pay back the money or face three months in jail.

He said: "It always seems that young people who get involved in drugs put their liberty at risk."

Raja was jailed for six years at Shrewsbury Crown Court in February after admitting seven charges of supplying class A drugs.

Judge Onions gave him 12 months to pay or face an extra eight months in jail.

By Andy Robbins