The mastermind of a largescale drugs ring and his gang members have been jailed, following a National Crime Agency investigation.

Qorem Khan, 42, orchestrated the conspiracy from April to June 2020, directing his Newcastle gang’s criminality via Encrochat phones.

Encrochat phones were heavily encrypted devices used by criminals to communicate anonymously with each other under aliases. In 2020 an international law enforcement team infiltrated the platform and Operation Venetic was the NCA led, UK response to the takedown of the platform.

Messages recovered as part of this operation revealed Khan was responsible for purchasing and distributing Class A drugs in Newcastle and the surrounding areas. In total his gang was involved in supplying over 30 kilos of cocaine with a street value in the region of £3 million.

Kowsor Ahmad, 41, was a reliable and trusted courier whose role involved taking delivery of large quantities of cocaine and cash on behalf of Khan. Encrochat messages described how he would do this using his ‘little Blue Skoda’.

Richard Small, 48, was another trusted gang member who enabled Khan to legitimise the proceeds of his crimes through the use of Small’s business and personal accounts.

Khan instructed Small to make bank transfers on multiple occasions. This included payments overseas to a criminal associate disguised as ‘wages’, as well as large deposits towards business investments in the North East. This was all an effort to disguise the proceeds of Khan’s drug dealing.

The recovered messages also revealed how a safe at Small’s business unit was used to store and supply 9 kilos of class A drugs on 3 June 2020. The men knew of the severity of their crimes and potential long jail sentences, with one Encrochat user messaging: “Be getting a bus pass when I get out”, upon the safe being opened.

For years Khan laundered his criminal profits into legitimate taxi companies in the North East and towards a deposit for a luxury home in the area of Great Park, Gosforth.

Despite the sophistication of the scheme, he made the mistake of naming family members, associated addresses and couriers in his Encrochat messages, allowing officers to trace the account back to him.

Khan was shocked when NCA officers appeared at this property to arrest him on 1 March 2022, asking: “How did you know I was here?”. Small was arrested on the same day at his business unit while Ahmad was arrested on 20 April 2022.

Further offending by Khan was identified from his seized devices including him requesting other parties to take responsibility for speeding offences which he committed.

The three men appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where they pleaded or were found guilty of their crimes. They were sentenced today [Friday 10 July] at the same location to a total of 26 years and five months.

Martin Clarke, NCA Senior Investigating Officer, said:

“Khan was clearly an experienced criminal who thought he could evade justice.

“He used Ahmad and Small to facilitate his operation, benefitting financially from putting dangerous drugs on Newcastle’s streets.

“No matter the lengths criminals go to, the NCA, along with partners like the North East Regional Economic Crime Unit, will continue to pursue and dismantle networks that damage our communities.”

10 July 2026