Latest news with #UmairZaheer
BBC News
21-05-2025
- BBC News
Jailed man behind revenge shooting plot ordered to pay £350k
The ringleader of a nationwide drugs and firearms conspiracy who was jailed for 25 years has been ordered to pay back £350,000. Umair Zaheer, 37, formerly of Eccles, was among seven men jailed in February 2022 after police uncovered a plot to carry out a revenge shooting and sell a stash of firearms.A judge at Manchester Crown Court has now told Zaheer he must give back £350,000 - the total value of his assets - within three Insp Rebecca McGuigan of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said Zaheer would have to serve another three-and-a-half years in jail if he failed to comply with the order. If returned, the money will be reinvested into local community projects, Det Insp McGuigan said. Zaheer had gained a total of £692,000 from his criminal activities, Greater Manchester Police said. Plans for the revenge shooting were uncovered alongside evidence of drug dealing after detectives infiltrated the secret crime communications network EncroChat, a court previously was hatched to target those who shot at two of the men during an attack in 2020 in Salford. Det Insp McGuigan said: "Some of the serious criminality in Salford in the years before these arrests was a result of these individuals and it would be wrong for any of them to benefit from their ill-gotten gains.""We will be trying to reclaim the rest of the money if we prove he has more cash or assets we can seize," she added. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
His plans were serious, not bravado, and they made him almost £700,000
A 'ruthless gangster' who helped criminals source guns benefited from crime to the tune of almost £700,000. Gun runner Umair Zaheer is serving a 25-year prison sentence after he was revealed to be involved in selling firearms and drug dealing. The law enforcement infiltration of the EncroChat communications network brought Zaheer's dealings within the criminal underworld to light. His help was sought by two Salford criminals who were both shot in Kersal in April 2020. READ MORE: Family's double tragedy as second teenager killed five years after shooting READ MORE: Mum-of-four locked up because of what she did with a Kinder Egg at Creamfields They went to Zaheer to source a gun and seek retribution. The 36-year-old said they would 'do him' when they discovered where the alleged gunman was. "This kids f***** now," he said. Zaheer sent a list of firearms available for sale, including two AK47s and an Uzi. The two Salford criminals were arrested and the plan came to nothing. In court, their lawyers claimed the messages were exaggerated and showed 'bravado', but when sentencing them in 2022, the judge, Mr Justice Kerr, said: "The three of you at once planned revenge. The plan was serious. It was not bravado.' Zaheer, who was described by the judge as a 'ruthless gangster', was also involved in helping broker deals to sell terrifying weapons to other criminals. He arranged a £37,000 deal to sell Uzi and Skorpion sub machine guns, as well as a pistol. An image of Zaheer holding an AK47 provided police with a crucial breakthrough, as they were able to find the same clothes he had been wearing on the picture at his home. The Louis Vuitton T-shirt, grey top, trousers and trainers were all recovered by police. "The photograph of you holding the AK47 was circulated to associates as a sign of your power," the sentencing judge told Zaheer, then 34, in 2022. More than three years on, Zaheer appeared at Manchester Crown Court again for a proceeds of crime hearing. The law allows prosecutors to attempt to claw back ill-gotten gains, which are then often pumped back into the community to help fund good causes. During today's (May 20) hearing, presided over by Judge Tom Gilbart, it was ruled that Zaheer had benefited from crime to the tune of £692,157.14. The available amount of assets which can be recovered by prosecutors was found to be £350,000. The majority of this amount was sourced from Zaheer's interests in property. Zaheer, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess firearms or ammunition with intent to endanger life. Zaheer pleaded guilty to a separate conspiracy to possess firearms or ammunition with intent to endanger life. Zaheer also admitted drugs offences, pleading guilty to conspiring to supply cocaine and conspiring to supply cannabis. He was sentenced in February 2022.
