Operation Flymo
South Yorkshire Police engaged the North East Regional Asset Recovery Team (NE RART) at an early stage to assist in developing intelligence concerning Leyakt SAJAWAL and his associates who were believed to be heavily involved in Cannabis farming in South Yorkshire in 2006 & 2007.
The NE RART pro-active money laundering team developed intelligence supplied by South Yorkshire Police and identified SAJAWAL’s involvement in cannabis farming across the North East region.
The significant events that form the basis of the recent successful prosecution of Leyakt SAJAWAL aged 35 of St Lawrence Glebe, Tinsley, Sheffield are as follows:
Vehicle stop – North Yorkshire
In December 2006, a Daewoo motor car was stopped by police at Topcliffe travelling North on the A168 in North Yorkshire. It was found to contain 3 illegal Chinese immigrants, 400 young cannabis plants, equipment to the value of £10,000 associated with growing cannabis and a ‘Sat Nav’ device.
When the Sat Nav was sent for forensic examination addresses that are now knows to be cannabis farms where found, this included St Peters Street, Huddersfield and the address on the former probation offices in Middlesbrough known as “Longlands” which are detailed later in this document. It is believed that “Longlands” was the intended destination of the Daewoo motor car and its contents.
The memory in the Sat Nav also logged addresses in Amsterdam and the street where SAJAWAL lives.
West Yorkshire cannabis farm:
On 6 February 2007, West Yorkshire Police (WYP) discovered a cannabis farm at 26 St Peters Street Huddersfield. This address was one of those downloaded from the Sat Nav in December 2006. The estimated crop value at these premises was £250,000.
WYP arrested two persons from this address, one was an illegal immigrant.
At the time the search warrant was executed at this address Sajawal’s distinctive black BMW X5 was outside the address. Two illegal Chinese immigrants were sat inside this vehicle and SAJAWAL was out of the vehicle and paying particular attention to the police activity. He was seen to peer through the windows of the premises. He was further connected to this address through the letting process and had visited the landlord in the same BMW when the rent was paid. SAJAWAL was arrested at the time but was not prosecuted on this occasion.
Sheffield cannabis farms
In April 2007, several cannabis farms in close proximity to each other were subject of search warrants executed by South Yorkshire Police (SYP). The addresses were 693 Staniforth Road; 683 – 685 Staniforth Rd, Sheffield and 114 Bawtry Rd, Sheffield which are properties under the control of Sajawal. It was estimated at the time that the crop yield from these three premises alone would be in excess of £500,000.
Middlesbrough cannabis farms:
In May 2007 a substantial cannabis farm was disrupted at the “Longlands” premises (former probation offices), the value of this crop was estimated to be in excess of £1,000,000. The evidence gathered identified that SAJAWAL was a party to arranging the lease on these premises. SAJAWAL has subsequently admitted that he acted as a consultant to the defendants who were operating the cannabis farms in the Middlesbrough area.
Six other persons are now serving terms of imprisonment as a result of a very successful investigation conducted by Cleveland Police concerning this address and several others in the Middlesbrough area as part of Operation Basar. The N E RART have undertaken the confiscation investigation for this operation as well and this will be reported separately.
The Results
On 26 February 2009, SAJAWAL pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce class C drug (cannabis) and he was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on 6 March 2009, he received a term of imprisonment of 4 ½ years.
The NE RART is continuing the investigation into the benefit that SAJAWAL has derived from the proceeds of these crimes and have restraint orders made on 9 properties, cash in a bank account and a car with a view to these being used to satisfy a confiscation order made by the court at a later date.
The police also seized three designer watches namely a jewelled Rolex, Breitling and a Rado and £10,000 which was destined to be the deposit on a new Mercedes motor car.
Detective Inspector Mel Ashley said “The sentence given to Leyakt Sajawal has shown that the court deemed him to be a major organiser involved in the production of cannabis. The value of the drugs being produced shows that he was in for the large criminal benefits which were being generated. Leyakt Sajawal and others were also responsible for the exploitation of illegal immigrants by using them within the cannabis factories”
DCI Steve Waite from the NE RART said “South Yorkshire Police engaged the NE RART at an early stage to assist them in developing intelligence relating to wholesale drugs production and supply. It became clear that the organised crime group was operating throughout the region. The NE RART Money Laundering Team worked closely with partner forces to obtain evidence which has now led to the successful prosecution and the disruption of the organised crime group.
The NE RART confiscation team are continuing to investigate SAJAWAL with a view to ensuring that he does not benefit from the proceeds of his crimes.” Four and half years in prison is a significant term but is only part of the “sentence”. The RART will ensure that any gains that this group enjoyed will be recovered for the benefit of the community.
The North East Regional Asset Recovery Team was set up in 2004 and covers the whole of the North East from South Yorkshire to the Scottish borders .Our objective is to use the Proceeds of Crime legislation to ensure that criminals are deprived of the benefit of their crimes and the threat they pose to our communities is removed.
The NE RART will conduct pro active money laundering investigations, confiscation investigations and ensure the enforcement of the orders.
If you think someone is living beyond their means ask yourself the question –why should they? Contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.