Drug dealers who targeted students in North East are sentenced to prison terms

Hamzah Ali, Dilawar Tariq, and David Knowles along with their associates came to the attention of police back in 2020 following a targeted clampdown on the sale and distribution of illegal drugs in Newcastle.

The enhanced activity formed part of the response to the tragic deaths of three students in the city that October, and as part of the policing tactics, a plain-clothed officer was deployed and tasked with sourcing illicit substances.

Before long, the officer was able to identify a series of deal lines used by Ali and Knowles to sell cocaine, ketamine and MDMA. Further enquiries also linked Tariq to the illicit business.

Following a long-running investigation which gathered in-depth intelligence on the group and their network over a nine-month period, officers arrested the dealers and seized £3,000 worth of cocaine, cannabis, MDMA and ketamine and various weapons, including an illegal air rifle section from Knowles’ home.

Following the arrests, further enquiries were carried out which led officers to an address in Gosforth where they uncovered £270,000 worth of Class A and B drugs, a handful of firearms and ammunition which forensics linked to the criminal group.

The group was all subsequently charged with drug supply and appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on July 11 where they pleaded guilty to supplying and conspiracy to supply illegal drugs.

On Friday, January 26, they were sentenced at the same court as follows:

-             Dilawar Tariq, 21, of Wingrove Road in Newcastle, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, two counts of possessing cannabis with intent to supply, possession of cocaine with intent and possession of ketamine with intent to supply and was given a prison sentence of five years and five months.

-             Hamzah Ali, 27, of Brighton Grove in Newcastle, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, possession with intent to supply herbal cannabis and possession with intent to supply THC and was given a prison sentence of three years and three months.

-             David Knowles, 27, of Newman Way, Whickham, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and possessing a firearm without a certificate and was given a three-year prison sentence.

-             Charlotte Johnstone, 22, of Beaumont Court in Blaydon, William Campbell, 22, of Burnopfield Road in Rowlands Gill and Kieran Cash, 27, of Strothers Road, High Spen, Gateshead, all admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine. Johnstone and Campbell were both given prison sentences of 21 months, suspended for two years, while Cash was given a prison sentence of two years and eight months.

-             Billy Galbraith, 31, of Ainslie Place, Newcastle, admitted possession of a class B drug with intent to supply and possession of MDMA and was handed a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for a year.

We know how harmful and addictive illegal drugs can be, which is why, through Operation Sentinel, we will continue to tackle organised crime, as well as disrupt and dismantle the individuals and groups running the supply chains. 

To report concerns or suspicious activity, contact local police or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.