Three Birmingham men have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in a drug operation that flooded Weston-Super-Mare with heroin and crack cocaine, a court has heard.
The dealers operated what was known as the “Chase line,” a phone line where drug users discreetly ordered by requesting “coffee and milk”—code names for heroin and crack cocaine. At its peak last summer, the line serviced approximately 2,700 customers across the South West.
Zaheer Hussain, 27, Safraz Ali, 27, and Bashir Hassan, 20, were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court. Each admitted to playing different roles in the supply chain, citing debts as their motivation.
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Safraz Ali, from Handsworth, managed the drug line from Birmingham, which began operating in April 2025. Bashir Hassan, from Saltley, was responsible for transporting drugs to dealers in Weston-Super-Mare, coordinating taxi bookings to facilitate deliveries. Zaheer Hussain, based in the Jewellery Quarter, collected drug payments and transferred the money within the network.
During the court proceedings, Prosecutor Mr. Dhami explained that after a quiet start, the number became highly active but saw a decline by late July before being abandoned. The operation maintained a “tick list” to track customers who owed money.
Sentencing the men, Judge Walkling KC stated: “All of you played significant roles, whether major or minor, in a drug line that sold heroin and crack cocaine in the South West. Class A drugs cause serious harm to communities, and those who profit from their sale rightly face immediate custodial sentences.”
Bashir Hassan received six years in prison, while Hussain and Ali were each sentenced to five years and seven months. All pleaded guilty to charges of supply of class A drugs, with Hassan also admitting to robbery and aggravated vehicle taking.
In mitigation, Hassan’s lawyer described him as a vulnerable individual working under instruction to pay off debts, highlighting his role as a courier who assumed considerable risks. Hussain’s counsel emphasized his limited involvement and motivation by financial hardship, noting he sought to disengage after repaying a £600 debt. Ali’s defense outlined how threats and coercion, including threats to his family, forced his participation, with no control over pricing or supply.
The case underscores the dangers and complexities of drug networks, as well as the heavy consequences for those involved in the distribution of harmful substances.