Crime gang man jailed over fake Ecstasy pills

Mohammed Sajawal, 29, of Harehills Avenue, Harehills, was said to be a “significant intermediary” in a group of criminals based mainly in Derby and Nottingham.

Sajawal, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply, was involved in the transportation of 2,700 piperazine pills, which he thought was Ecstasy. Piperazine is used widely in human and veterinary medicine.

Sajawal was among 14 men whose combined sentences at Nottingham Crown Court this week amounted to more than 70 years.

Drugs with a street value of £400,000, including hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin, were seized.

Det Insp Joe Elliott, of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: “The tentacles of this crime group were far-reaching.

“They had associations to other criminals in different parts of the country and the ability to supply multi-commodity controlled substances.”

Most of the men lived at Sinfin, Derby.