Faz Alum Rock drugs line smashed by police as entire generation of same family jailed
West Midlands Police said siblings had ruined the lives of their relatives, who 'have to deal with a whole generation of the family in prison for a considerable time'
by Naomi DeSouza, https://www.facebook.com/naomicovlive · Birmingham LiveA whole generation of one Birmingham family has been locked up for a total for running a drugs line through a city neighbourhood. Five people, including three brothers, were convicted of operating the 'Faz' drugs line in Alum Rock.
The line caused misery across communities in Birmingham after being set up in 2021, with West Midlands Police saying the Fazal brothers showed "no remorse". Siblings Fazal Wahab, Fazal Akbar and Fazal Elahi were convicted alongside two others for their roles in supplying cocaine and heroin. All five defendants were sentenced together on October 4 at Birmingham Crown Court.
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Following sentencing, the force said the brothers' relatives had to deal with a "whole generation of the family in prison for a considerable time." It said Fazal Wahab and Fazal Akbar initially sold cocaine and heroin to users through what was known as the Faz Line.
Officers stopped the brothers in a car in March 2022 after a tip-off alerted them to suspected drug dealing. They found crack cocaine, a cutting agent, two knives and the Faz Line mobile phone.
Look through our photo gallery below to see every mugshot of those involved:
Faces of Birmingham drugs gang who 'showed no remorse' in running 'Faz' line
Officers searched their home and seized £8,000 in cash. West Midlands Police's digital forensics team downloaded the contents of the phone and found marketing text messages sent out in bulk to customers.
Investigators said evidence suggested the brothers operated the drugs line between November 2021 and March 2022. But a further investigation showed Wahab reinstated the line the day after the police stop, with his partner Shakeela Begum setting up a SIM card ready for use.
In April 2022, officers from the Birmingham East Organised Crime Team raided the home of Carl Jamieson, an accomplice of the brothers, following a tip that it was a drug stash location. The occupants tried to throw a large bag of Class A drugs from an upstairs window as police burst in.
Officers found thousands of pounds-worth of Class A drugs, prepared for sale, and a makeshift ledger documenting months of activity relating to stored drugs. In August 2022 officers once again targeted the brothers’ vehicle, seizing the drug line phone, and over £12,000 in cash from their home.
Wahab was charged and remanded into custody and Akbar, Begum and Jamieson were also charged. But in February 2023 police received new intelligence that Akbar had restarted the line while awaiting trial, drug dealing with a third brother Fazal Elahi, all from Parkfield Drive, Birmingham.
In February 2024 Akbar and Elahi were arrested and charged with Class A drug supply. All the defendants were sentenced together on October 4 at Birmingham Crown Court.
Drugs gang sentenced
• Fazal Wahab, 42 pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin between November 2021 and August 2022 – he was jailed for ten years and ten months.
• Fazal Akbar, 32, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin between November 2021 and August 2022 and then between February 2023 and December 2023. He was jailed for 13 years.
• Fazal Elahi, 30, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin between February 2023 and December 2023 and received a six-year jail term.
• Begum, 29, of Denbigh Drive, was found guilty at trial of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin between November 2021 and August 2022. She was jailed for two years and six months.
• Carl Jamieson, 54, of Wardlow Road, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin between November 2021 and August 2022. He received a two-year sentence, suspended for two years.
'Faz brothers were nothing short of determined in their pursuit of money'
After the hearing, Det Sgt Robert Moir, of West Midlands County Lines Task Force, said: "The Faz brothers continued to deal Class A drugs, no matter the cost and despite police intervention and charges. They showed no remorse up until the point of sentencing.
"Hopefully now they can see the consequences of their actions, not just on them and their family, but the devastating effect drugs have had on their community. The Faz brothers were nothing short of determined in their pursuit of money. Fortunately my officers were equally determined to shut down their operation and bring them to justice.
“Det Cons Gareth Cartwright and Philip Langstone were instrumental in bringing these people to justice. Those involved in the Faz Line had no concern for the lives ruined by their Class A drugs operation. But now it is has ruined their own lives, and sadly those of their relatives who have to deal with a whole generation of the family in prison for a considerable time."