Drug ferrying cabbie sentenced to jail after being found with four kilos of high purity cocaine
A cab driver from Birmingham has been jailed for four-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to being a “trusted courier” for a drug smuggling racket. As reported by the Birmingham Live, Tanzeel Rehman, 24, was stopped by National Crime Agency officers on the M6 while returning from a trip to Luton with a consignment of high-purity cocaine. When searching the vehicle, the officers found four one-kilo blocks of cocaine, with a purity of 98 per cent, behind one of the seats, with a probable street value of £400,000. Rehman pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Crown to possessing cocaine with intent to supply. Simon Birch, prosecuting, confirmed that along with the four one-kilo blocks, four individual wraps of cocaine was also found in the driver’s door, thought to be for personal use. The court heard that Rehman was seen by traffic cameras travelling to Luton to meet someone in another car - this is where the exchange was made. Birch said that they were unable to prove that Rehman was anything other than a courier of the drugs. Speaking in defence of Rehman, Tarlochan Dubb, said: “On my view, he’s about to receive a very significant sentence indeed. “My best point is that he pleaded guilty at the first opportunity at this court, and the prosecution accept the basis that he is no more and no less than a trusted courier. “He’s been a taxi driver for three years, and apart from this he’s led a law-abiding and useful life. His family are utterly devastated at the predicament he now finds himself in.” Judge Peter Cooke told Rehman: “Notwithstanding your youth and your lack of antecedents, it is apparent that you had lent yourself to a class A drug dealing enterprise in which, no doubt for a reward, you were prepared to play the role of courier. “Your occupation as a taxi driver made your movements appear innocuous, but you were found in possession of four packages of very high purity cocaine.”