Authorities in Birmingham have dismantled a major international drug smuggling operation, seizing heroin with a staggering street value of over £20 million.
The Seizure and Smuggling Method
The massive bust occurred in May 2023 when investigators from the National Crime Agency (NCA) intercepted a shipping container. The drugs, weighing more than 420kg, were discovered concealed within a shipment of fruit juice that had been imported from Afghanistan.
The NCA confirmed the sheer scale of the find, estimating the street value of the heroin at £20.3 million. The seizure represents a major blow to the organised crime group behind the sophisticated importation plot.
Key Players Sentenced
As a team of 11 paid workers began unloading the container, law enforcement moved in. Among those arrested were Colin Bartlett, 54, and his son Lee Bartlett, 30, both from the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham.
The pair were found guilty of participating in the activities of an organised crime group. Despite the immense value of the drugs involved, both men received suspended sentences. Colin Bartlett was sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, while his son, Lee, received an 18-month suspended sentence.
Ongoing Manhunt and Public Appeal
The investigation revealed that the Bartletts were part of a wider network that used a front company with a fictitious director to facilitate the import. While two members have been sentenced, the hunt continues for other suspects.
The NCA has issued a public appeal for information on the whereabouts of Shamut Khan, 56, and Matiullah Zamankhel, 23, both from the Washwood Heath area. The two men are wanted after failing to answer bail in November 2023.
The agency has warned that anyone found to be assisting Khan and Zamankhel could also face arrest. An NCA spokesperson stressed that tackling Class A drug trafficking remains a top priority, stating they "won't rest" until the remaining suspects are located.
