A drug trafficker from Basford who took a European tour as he tried to dodge a jail term ended up back where he started – in Nottingham Crown Court.
Ahmed Omer, 46, from Stockhill Lane, skipped bail while on trial for drugs offences at the court 14 months ago. But his jaunt around Europe – which took in the Netherlands and Cyprus – ended when he came home to Nottingham for Christmas.
And after the case, the Police Organised Crime Group said major efforts had been made to detain Omer.
Detective Constable Dale Baldry said: “There were extensive police resources and investigative work done in trying to bring him to justice.”
Last year Crimestoppers, the National Crime Agency and Dutch authorities launched a joint operation to find Omer and bring him to justice as part of an investigation known as Operation Return. This featured five of the ‘most wanted’ criminals who were on the run.
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Matt Burton, head of the NCA’s International Crime Bureau, said: “The NCA and its partners pursue fugitives relentlessly. Ahmed Omer thought he could return to the UK and avoid detection, but we tracked him down and now he’s behind bars where he belongs.”
Omer had been part of a drugs trial featuring seven men when he fled the country. Gregor Purcell, prosecuting, said Omer had been granted bail during the trial, on Friday November 13, 2015, but was found to have left the country in a Mercedes going through the Eurotunnel the day after.
While living in The Netherlands under a false name, he was arrested for a cannabis offence and was given bail. But he had left Holland by the time the three-month sentence had been handed down, moving to Cyprus where he also lived under a false name.
“There were extensive enquiries which led to information that he had left the country,” said Mr Purcell. “Using the name Ahmet Nafiz, he entered Cyprus.
“It was revealed he was in the UK on December 30, and police launched an operation to arrest him. “The understanding is that he returned for Christmas to spend him with his family and went to Stockhill Lane,” said Mr Purcell
He said officers had to stage a special operation and that Omer “did not voluntarily surrender.
Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pearson, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: “The recapture of Ahmed Omer represents more than a year of concerted team effort between the National Crime Agency, the East Midlands Special Operations Unit and Nottinghamshire Police.
“This case is a reflection of the dogged determination we have in policing — that an offender will remain on our radar until justice is done.
“It is extremely satisfying, not only to the officers who worked on the original case, but to those who have been pursuing Omer for the last year, that he will now finally pay his dues and serve his sentence.”
Omer appeared via a video linked to Nottingham Prison today. He pleaded guilty to breaching his bail during a trial of seven men accused of conspiracy to supply class B drugs, and got four months in prison.
This will be added to the ten year term – the longest of the sentences handed to the gang – which was imposed in his absence for the original drugs offences of conspiracy to supply amphetamine, cannabis and cannabis resin, relating to crimes committed in 2011 and 2012. He will serve five years and two months in prison before being freed on licence.
Zoe Dawson, mitigating, said of the original trial: “He found the process very frustrating but he accepts running away was not the right thing to do. He went back home and was arrested at home.”
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Judge Sarah Buckingham said she accepted that it had taken more than two years for the drugs trial to come to court, but told Omer: “It was not your decision to stay in this country and surrender yourself. It needed a police operation to secure your detention.”
In Stockhill Lane today, people were giving their reactions to the capture and sentencing of Omer.
One resident, who asked not be named, said “He used to have flashy cars and caravan. He just seemed to have money, but he was always at home. We’d just see him pottering around in his driveway.
“I’m not surprised. We used to have people parking up on here now and again and it was obvious they were buying drugs.”
Another woman who asked not to be named, but has lived in the area for 40 years, said: “There’s a lot of things going off and I can honestly say I don’t like it. It used t be quiet and now we’re getting more and more trouble.”
The drugs gang operated in Nottingham, London and Birmingham and officers are still working on the case. They are keen to hear of anyone who knows the whereabouts of Mark Liscott, 56, who has links with the West Midlands. Information can be passed to any police force or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
