A court has sentenced two drug-dealing sisters who operated a multi-million dollar drug network out of their beauty parlor to repay thousands of pounds in ill-gotten riches.
In order to launder money, Shazia Din, 44, and her sister Abia Din, 47, ran a beauty salon in Bury, Greater Manchester, named The Beauty Booth.
The two were supplying South Yorkshire connections with heroin, cocaine, and amphetamines.
This afternoon, Greater Manchester Police said that a judge at Manchester Crown Court had taken a total of £345,031 from seven people who were engaged in the crime’s planning at a hearing there.
In Bury, Greater Manchester, Shazia Din, 44, and her elder sister Abia Din, 47, operated The Beauty Booth as a money-laundering scheme.
After the Greater Manchester Police busted a trans-Pennine narcotics operation in December 2020 and seized more than 60 kilos of heroin and cocaine as well as £300,000 in cash, 17 persons were sentenced to prison.
Shaiza Din entered a plea of guilty to conspiring to distribute class A narcotics including cocaine, heroin, and MDMA as well as class B drugs like cannabis, as well as conspiring to transform and transfer illegal goods.
She was later given a 15-year sentence.
A jury found Abia Din guilty of conspiring to distribute class A narcotics including cocaine, heroin, and MDA as well as class B drugs like cannabis after she entered a plea of guilty to converting and transferring criminal property.
She received an 18-year sentence.
The Proceeds of Crime Act seizure orders were issued today against the Din sisters.
Shaiza Din, who operated a criminal enterprise out of her cosmetics shop, had £259,079 seized, while Abia Din will forfeit £49,478.
The police department also acknowledged that “significant money was taken” from other parties involved.
According to a spokeswoman, everyone participants in the drug ring—including those responsible for transporting narcotics between Manchester and Yorkshire—have now forfeited a total of £736,464.30.
Over 60 kilos of class A narcotics, including heroin and cocaine, as well as £300,000 in cash, a hydraulic press, drug-related equipment, a firearm, and ammunition were recovered during the investigation. The cumulative punishment for the conspirators was 140 years.
A family matriarch from Bury and the daughter of a significant heroin dealer from Doncaster spoke in court about their collaboration.
Following Greater Manchester Police’s Investigation Heart, which ran from December 2018 to its abrupt closure on July 24, 2019, 20 individuals were detained, found guilty, and given sentences for their participation in the operation.
Shazia Din, then 42, and her sister Abia Din, then 45, were the leaders of a Bury-based crime organization, according to prosecutor Andrew Ford, but it was through their relationship with Peter Wrafter, 57, that heroin, cocaine, and amphetamines were supplied to and distributed through South Yorkshire-based networks.
However, once Wrafter was apprehended and locked up after being discovered in his Mercedes vehicle with a gun, ammo, narcotics, and cash, Shazia ‘elevated’ her son Hassan, who was 21 at the time, to be the business’s face, and Natalie Wrafter, 31, took over from her father, the court heard.
Natalie Wrafter, 31, (left) with Shazia Din, 44, (right) exchanging thousands of pounds worth of drug money in a prison car park before visiting Ms Wrafter’s father Peter Wrafter
Natalie Wrafter, (left) of Harewood Avenue, Doncaster, got 11 years and three months for similar drugs offences. Shazia Din (right) was jailed for 15 years
Hassan Din, of The Drive, Bury, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B drugs, namely cannabis, and conspiracy to transfer criminal property.
He was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely cocaine and heroin; and conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely MDMA. A judge jailed him for 14 years.
Natalie Wrafter, of Harewood Avenue, Doncaster, got 11 years and three months for similar drugs offences.
When the Greater Manchester Police busted a cross-Pennine narcotics operation in December 2020, they arrested 17 persons, including Natalie Wrafter (pictured), and seized more than 60 kilos of heroin and cocaine as well as £300,000 in cash.
Detective Chief Inspector Roger Smethurst expressed his satisfaction with the confiscation hearing’s outcomes and the case overall after the seizure. The police involved have put in a lot of effort to get convictions against important figures in a Greater Manchester-based organized criminal ring.
We hope this serves as a reminder to everyone that we still look into and succeed in prosecuting large-scale drug organizations.
The phrase “proceeds of crime” refers to funds or other items acquired by offenders while engaging in illegal behavior. Under POCA, the government, including the Crown Prosecution Service, has the authority to try to seize assets to make crime unprofitable.
Greater Manchester Police further said in a statement, “By removing the profits that finance crime, we can assist interrupt the cycle and prevent additional offenses.”