West Midlands Police have released the first images of three men from Birmingham who were recently sentenced for their involvement in a drug distribution line operating in Weston-Super-Mare. The trio, Zaheer Hussain, 27, Safraz Ali, 27, and Bashir Hassan, 20, were convicted at Birmingham Crown Court last week for their roles in selling heroin and crack cocaine to hundreds of customers in the South West.
The so-called ‘Chase line’ was used by around 2,700 users last summer, who sent messages containing code words like “coffee and milk” to request crack cocaine and heroin. The operation, which originated in Birmingham, quickly became active throughout Weston-Super-Mare and the surrounding region before being dismantled.
Sentencing the men to prison, Judge Walkling KC emphasized the harm caused by Class A drugs to communities, stating, “Those who sell addictive Class A drugs for their own profit are rightly punished with sentences of immediate custody.”
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Bashir Hassan received a six-year prison sentence, while Zaheer Hussain and Safraz Ali were each sentenced to five years and seven months. All three pleaded guilty to charges related to the supply of Class A drugs. Additionally, Hassan pleaded guilty to robbery and aggravated vehicle taking.
Safraz Ali, from Handsworth, managed the drug line in Birmingham, which was launched in April 2025 but was discontinued a few months later. His defense highlighted that Ali became involved due to financial pressures and threats to himself and his family, stating he was forced into the operation to pay off a debt.
Bashir Hassan, residing in Saltley, traveled with drugs to restock dealers. His lawyer described him as a vulnerable individual following instructions and assuming risks due to his debt.
Zaheer Hussain, from the Jewellery Quarter, was responsible for collecting drug money and delivering it elsewhere. His defense outlined that he participated for just a few months, was instructed who to collect from and hand over to, and sought to leave the operation after repaying a £600 debt. He expressed a desire to reform his life following his offense.
Court testimony also revealed that there was a tracking system on the Chase line documenting customers who owed money, further illustrating the coordination behind the operation.