Brothers chasing ‘easy money’ involved in large Rhyl cannabis scheme

The defendants were handed jail terms of the following lengths at Caernarfon Crown Court today (April 25):

• Akeel Aslam, 50, of River Street, Rhyl - 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for the same time period.
• Faisall Aslam, 49, of Baslow Grove, Bradford – two years’ imprisonment, suspended for the same time period.
• Shakeel Aslam, 51, of River Street, Rhyl – 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for the same time period.

All of the defendants had previously admitted conspiring to produce a class B drug.

READ MORE:

Eight jailed after Rhyl conspiracy produced £2.5million of cannabis

In December, eight co-defendants were jailed for their involvement in the conspiracy.

Top row, L-R: Aranit Kapo, Ardit Lici, Edison Cella, Besim Kalemi. Bottom row, L-R: Hasan Hajdari, Ronaldo Hazizi, Shpetim Kapo, Oltian Salla (Image: North Wales Police)

In January 2022, a cannabis grow was found at the Lyric Buildings in Rhyl, with 450 plants growing, and 151 having been harvested.

Then, in May 2022, police executed a search warrant at a disused building; 38-40 Kinmel Street, Rhyl.

A pair of men were apprehended after trying to escape, and 223 cannabis plants were found at the premises.

Data from mobile phones seized showed the conspiracy hierarchy stemmed from a crime group in Birmingham, and a link between Faisall Aslam and his two Rhyl-based brothers.

In December 2022, a warrant was executed at the Conrad Building in Rhyl, which Faisall Aslam had purchased, and where 136 cannabis plants had been harvested.

As an estate agent, Faisall Aslam used that role to facilitate rentals of properties involved in the production of cannabis.

Then, in February 2023, remnants of cannabis were found fly-tipped in Rhyl, which were connected forensically to Shakeel Aslam.

A property in Rhyl which he owned was then raided, and cannabis worth £320,000 was found.

In total, this three-year conspiracy involved the production of 257kg of cannabis, yielding an estimated street value of £2.57million.

All three defendants had no relevant previous convictions, and were said to be remorseful for their actions.

Sentencing, Judge Nicola Saffman ordered each of the brothers to also carry out 300 hours’ unpaid work.

She told Faisall Aslam that he was the “most culpable” of them, and that all of them were motivated by “greed” and by making “easy money”.

“You all got involved because of greed on each and every one of your parts,” Judge Saffman told them.

To Faisall Aslam, Judge Saffman said: “It’s clear that you had an understanding of the nature of the chain, and you wanted a significant financial gain.

“You knew, frankly, what was going on. This has been a wake-up call for you and your greed.”

Judge Saffman told Akeel Aslam: “You had some contact and knowledge of the scale of the operation.”

She reserved the case to herself, should any of the defendants breach their suspended sentences and be brought back to court.

“You three have so very, very closely gone straight to custody today,” Judge Saffman added.

“It’s because of you pre-sentence reports, your previous good character, and your background that I’m not sending you straight into custody.

“I think society in general will benefit more from seeing people like you humbled and disgraced, walking the streets where these drugs are being peddled.”

*In December, their co-defendants were handed jail terms of the following lengths at Caernarfon Crown Court:

• Oltian Salla, 34, of Warstone Lane, Birmingham – four years.
• Shpetim Kapo, 24, of Town Fields, Doncaster -  three years and eight months.
• Aranit Kapo, 22, of Manor Oak Gardens, Sheffield – three years and four months.
• Ardit Lici, 27, of Owler Lane, Sheffield – nine months.
• Edison Cela, 28, of Owler Lane, Sheffield – nine months.
• Ronaldo Hazizi, 25, of Catherine Avenue, Doncaster – six months.
• Besim Kalemi, 23, of Wincobank Avenue, Sheffield - six months.
• Hasan Hajdari, 20, of Queen Street, Rhyl – four months.