A BOURNEMOUTH woman was given a two-year suspended sentence for her role in a criminal drug gang.

Emily Barbosa of Christchurch Road, Bournemouth was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on May 17.

Barbosa is one of 11 offenders convicted for their involvement in a large-scale drugs supply conspiracy.

In total, the gang received a combined sentence of 54 years and six months in prison.

The drugs line was run by 32-year-old Uwais Hassanjee and his right-hand men Kazi Ahmed and Jamil Ahmed, both 23 years old.

The investigation saw serious and organised crime unit officers conduct covert enquiries for months into the "POLO" drugs line which allowed them to gather evidence against the offenders and prove their involvement in supplying more than 5kg of class A drugs.

On October 19, 2022, officers saw a taxi leaving an address in Leicester and heading towards Gloucestershire. The vehicle was intercepted as it entered Cheltenham and officers found Kazi Ahmed and 19-year-old Emily Barbosa in the car along with a bag of Class A drugs in the boot.

This was found to contain a block of heroin weighing 248g, and 37.7g of cocaine compacted into a solid with some residual powder.

An additional 26.3g of cocaine, which had been divided into 39 wraps making a total of 64g, was found in Kazi Ahmed's coat pocket.

Christine Hart, crown advocate at CPS South West added: "The level of arrogance displayed in the videos and photographs is staggering.

"Far from being a ‘victimless’ way to make money, drug-related crime is corrosive – it damages not only those involved in buying and selling and their families but also the communities in which they live.

"The CPS is committed to working with the police to disrupt the supply of drugs by bringing those involved to justice and ensuring they do not profit from their criminality.”

Detective inspector Matt Phillips from the serious and organised crime unit said: "We would like to remind drug dealers that you are not untouchable or above the law as officers at Gloucestershire Constabulary will work tirelessly to gather the evidence that we need to secure a conviction against you."

Barbosa received a two-year suspended sentence and was ordered to do 250 hours of unpaid work and pay a £156 surcharge fee.