Flamboyant drug lord caught in 'riches to rags' sting
A flamboyant drug lord has been jailed for 11 years following an elaborate police operation to destroy his reputation in criminal circles.
Heroin Lord, Tariq Dad, the... "Big Turks"
By By Richard Edwards, Crime Correspondent
Published: 7:30AM BST 15 Jul 2010
Tariq Dad directed one of Britain’s biggest heroin rackets from a penthouse in Bristol and used the spoils to enjoy luxurious trips to Dubai, including one three week stay at the seven-star Burj Al Arab.
Police were unable to capture him conventionally because the “mafia-style” Mr Big would not handle drugs and used networks of dealers to “do his dirty work”.
Detectives told yesterday how he was instead convicted after a unique “riches to rags” sting which deliberately “destroyed” his reputation amongst criminals and "forced him into a corner".
Police systematically targeted lesser members of his gang, repeatedly seized packages of drugs and cash, froze Dad’s offshore bank account, repossessed his car and even paralysed his family’s businesses with health and safety checks.
Senior officers said the criminal underworld no longer trusted him because police were too “hot” on his tail, and Dad began to amass significant debts, forcing him to default on his mortgage.
In desperation he attempted to move in on the crack cocaine market and was caught red handed conducting a deal.
The 43-year-old career criminal was jailed for 11 years at Winchester Crown Court yesterday.
His brother and right hand man Mazar was also jailed for nine and a half years.
After the sentencing, Matt Horne, Head of Investigations for the Serious Organised Crime Agency said: “Tariq Dad thought he was untouchable, using others to do his dirty work while he lived the high life, but we were watching his every move.
“SOCA and its partners attacked each link in the chain to undermine his status. Eventually other criminals would no longer trade with him for fear of being arrested.
“In desperation for cash he was forced to go hands on with a drug deal which gave us the evidence to arrest him. His network has now been completely dismantled."
IN 1990
Dad began running his criminal network in Bristol in the 1990s, and he and his brother have been jailed before for supplying heroin and links to shootings, kidnappings, violence and blackmail.
However they continued to build their drugs empire and enjoyed a “playboy” lifestyle from the profits.
Tariq lived in a penthouse apartment in the 51’02 development in the centre of Bristol with his girlfriend, who was a lap dancer. They both had top of the range BMW sports cars and together with Mazar would frequently fly first class for holidays in Dubai.
Tariq’s nickname was Big Turks because of his ability to source heroin from Turkish drugs dealers. He had an email account in the name “Big Turks the Legend”.
In 2006,
Soca and Avon and Somerset Police began targeting the gang, using surveillance teams and intelligence.
In December that year £15,000 in cash was seized from an associate and four months later a further £85,000 cash was confiscated from Mazar as he drove his Audi sports car.
In 2007
In May 2007 police recovered a 21 kilo package of heroin after following dealers from north London to the west country.
Later that year a surveillance officer tracked Mazar meeting an unidentified man, who was then followed back to London. The officer seized a bottle of water he discarded and forensic tests found his DNA and identified him as a prominent Turkish drug dealer who was later arrested in Istanbul.
With their business crumbling, the Dads stopped operating the drugs network for nine months, before they then tried to move into the crack cocaine market.
IN 2008
In July 2008, police arrested the Dads as they were about to take a delivery of the drug in boxes of teabags from a courier, who was also detained.
Mazar Dad and Wakar Shah, an associate, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine. Tariq Dad and Garrie Jones, another conspirator, were found guilty following a six-week trial.
Omar Tariq, the courier, pleaded guilty in a separate trial for his involvement in the plot and was jailed for eight years.
Pippa Crerar, City Hall Editor
