Three Wembley drug gang members have been sentenced after over 1 million unregulated pills from India were imported to the UK.

Salman Ansari, 33, and his wife Juhi Ansari, of Central Road, Wembley, were among the defendants who were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court today (October 25).

Waqas Saleem, 33, of Sylvia Gardens, Wembley was also jailed.

Over 730kg of drugs were seized during the operation – including opioids and benzodiazepines, both which are commonly misused for their sedation effect and can be fatal when combined.

There were nine Class C drugs, one Class B and one Class A among the pills recovered.

The investigation launched in October 2020, when US Customs and Border seized numerous shipments sent from the UK.

It was traced back to Salman Ansari and Saleem and warrants were carried out in June 2021 in Vermont, USA, where pharmaceutical drugs were found.

City of London Police officers traced the drop-off locations of the drugs, which led to identifying a storage unit in Wembley.

The two were arrested in July 2021 on suspicion of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs and money laundering.

Officers also arrested Salman’s wife Juhi for money laundering.

Financial investigations revealed that Salman Ansari had over 11 bank accounts in his name, with a credit turnover of £1.09m.

Between March 2018 and September 2021, over 158 transactions were made from Salman Ansari to his wife, totalling more than £265,0000.

Salman also sent funds to India approximating to $62,120 (around £46,458) and similarly, Juhi Ansari sent approximately $55,050 (around £41,194).

Drugs recovered in the operationDrugs recovered in the operation (Image: City of London Police)

All pleaded not guilty, however the jury were unanimous in the their verdict of guilty on all counts for all three defendants.

Salman was found guilty of 12 counts of possession with intent to supply drugs, one count of conspiracy to supply Class C and one count of money laundering and received a six year sentence.

Saleem was found guilty of 12 counts of possession with intent to supply drugs, one count of conspiracy to supply Class C and one count of money laundering. He was sentenced two and a half years.

Juhi as found guilty of one count of money laundering and received a suspended sentence but will be required to complete 100 hours unpaid work and 25 days rehab.

Detective Constable Syed Shah, from the serious organised crime team, City of London Police said: “Today’s result is the culmination of numerous law enforcement agencies, working together from across the world, over a period of more than three years.

“The illegal importation of drugs has a devastating impact on the public. These drugs in particular are subject to an emerging trend of misuse due to their availability and affordability.

“Many of the drugs seized are unregulated products for the UK market, with the investigation team encountering counterfeited brands such as Xanax with flubromazolam where the pills dose and potency unknown.

“The withdrawal from drugs such as pregabalin can be more severe than opiate withdrawal and presents the user with a risk to life.”