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TWO twin brothers used guns and zombie knives to terrify missing children into selling drugs in a massive county lines plot.
Omar and Malik Aziz, 24, exploited the vulnerable children as they flooded the UK with heroin and crack cocaine.
Malik Aziz exploited children into supplying drugs[/caption]
When police raided a property in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, they discovered two boys aged 14 and 15 who had vanished from London.
Officers also found a Sig Sauer pistol, which Malik was seen holding in mobile phone footage, and £2,000 in cash.
A phone belonging to Malik revealed children were being directed to supply and advertise drugs on their behalf.
The brothers have now been jailed for a total of 12 years and two months after admitting conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.
Malik also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm.
Samir Mustafa, 24, was jailed for two years and three months for transporting the children while disqualified from driving.
Police believe the brothers would supply the children with drugs at their home address in Streatham, South West London.
From there, they would be driven to Hatfield and beyond in Mustafa’s Mercedes S Class.
Detectives who raided the home found the twins’ DNA on the pistol as well as zombie knife.
CCTV also showed the two missing children at the house before they vanished.
The two youngsters were not prosecuted and instead were referred to Children’s Services from respective local authorities.
All three defendants were slapped with ten-year Criminal Behaviour Orders, which bar them from being in the company of anyone under the age of sixteen without their parent’s permission.
Detective Constable Dec James, the investigating officer from Operation Orochi, said: “County lines drug dealers exploit young and vulnerable people to facilitate their drug supply.
“They hope that by using vulnerable children as drugs runners they will shield themselves from identification and prosecution by law enforcement. This is because frequently, these exploited persons are too scared to assist police.
“Drill music was also used to glorify their criminal activities. I hope this sentence sends out a message that we will not tolerate the exploitation of children nor the supply of drugs. We will pursue those involved, irrespective of whether the victim assists the police or not.
“The additional recovery of a loaded firearm associated with these perpetrators reflects the intractable association between drug supply and violence.”
Omar Aziz has been jailed for three years and two months[/caption]
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