Scumbag gangsters who made millions from heroin and cocaine were so cocky they posed for a GOODFELLAS film picture

A drug gang which was so brazen its members posed for this ‘Goodfellas’ gangster picture have been jailed for a total of 62 years.

Detectives worked undercover for more than two years to infiltrate and bring down the heroin and cocaine dealing operation.

Gang members were so cocky they styled themselves on American gangsters and even mocked up a scene from Goodfellas, the ultra-violent Martin Scorsese film.

In one undercover deal to cops, the gang used a ten-year-old boy to deliver £20,000 of heroin.

Now 15 men, all from the Bristol area, have been jailed for a combined total of over six decades after three separate trials at Bristol Crown Court.

Nicholas Rowland, prosecuting, said the saga unfolded when undercover officers infiltrated groups of men responsible for supplying cocaine in Bristol.

An undercover cop, known as Amin, built up a working relationship with Yasir Mahmood and Ershane Hussain, and was supplied with increasingly large amounts of cocaine.

Mr Rowland said: “Mahmood said he would sort out an introduction and the following day Mahmood said he would speak to his friend about the cocaine.”

The court heard how the pushers used a boy aged ten to help them supply undercover police with heroin worth £64,050 on the street in six separate deals with undercover cops.

They also procured another £41,000 worth of heroin in just one deal – and uniformed officers swooped just as Hussain was counting the money.

Bundles of cash, drugs and paraphernalia were also seized from a number of properties belonging to the defendants.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Kelvey said: “This case should send a strong message to organised criminals that we are committed to disrupting and ultimately destroying their networks.

“Illegal drugs destroy lives and communities and to involve a ten-year-old child in handling them is beyond comprehension.

“All of these men pleaded guilty to their involvement in this conspiracy and have shown no remorse for their actions.

“They are all professional criminals who have enjoyed life’s luxuries paid for by their crimes with no regard for the damage that they cause.

“I hope the sentences passed today will deter others from entering a life of crime and reassure communities that even though they may not see us, officers are working behind the scenes as well as overtly in the community to make people feel safe.”

The 15 drug dealers all pleaded guilty and were jailed after three separate court cases, but it is only now that the final batch have been caged that it can be reported.

On Thursday, Judge Julian Lambert jailed Ershane Hussain, 25, for eight-and-a-half years, 22-year-old Waseem Hussain for five years, seven months, and Tony Cross, 26, was jailed for two years, for conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, namely cocaine and heroin.

Aaron Dad, 24, received a three-and-a-half-year sentence and Shazan Qumar, 30, was handed two years, eight months, also for conspiracy to supply controlled drugs.

Mahmood, 27, was jailed for two years and four months for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

Zuaur Ali, 28, was sentenced to six years, and Tassadaf Hanif, 28, was slapped with a five-and-a-half-year sentence.

Mushabar Aftab, 35, from Reading was sentenced to five years and three months, and Albanian Erion Qela, 25, was jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Howard Blake, 42, was given two years and seven months, Anthony Byfield, 30, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years and Bradley Pearcey, 24, was hailed for two years.

Paul England 30, received a 32-month sentence, and Craig Tamlyn, 31, was jailed for three years.

Source: swns.com