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Town Taxi Driver Admitted Drugs Offence

23rd September 2008

A Redditch taxi driver was arrested after giving a drug dealer a lift to a pub car park in the town, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Undercover police had been keeping the dealer under surveillance as part of a major drugs operation, said Kerry Moreton, prosecuting. Other defendants had been sentenced and the principal had received four-and-a-half years in jail.

She said that the taxi driver, 35-year-old Assad Mehmood, joked with the police as he gave them an empty plastic bag, so he knew what was going on.

Mehmood, of Dawberry Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, who pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of drugs, was given a 12-month community order with 100 hours unpaid work.

Mohammed Latif, defending, said Mehmood had no previous convictions and only became aware that drugs were being supplied when the police arrived.

Judge Andrew Geddes said Mehmood had received no payment but should have driven off when he realised his cab was being used for the supply of drugs.

Source; Redditch Standard

Mehmood, joked with the police as he gave them an empty plastic bag, so he knew what was going on.

Mehmood, of Dawberry Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, who pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of drugs

Mehmood, joked with the police as he gave them an empty plastic bag, so he knew what was going on.

captain cab wrote:

Mehmood, joked with the police as he gave them an empty plastic bag, so he knew what was going on.

The driver said he knew what was going on when the police arrived, it was the prosecutor who opined that he new what was going on before the police arrived. The driver never denied knowing what was going on but he stated that he only became aware when the police arrived.

At what stage of the hire are you suggesting that he knew the purpose of the hire was for a drugs transaction?

When was the offence committed, was it committed at the time he first realised what the purpose of the hire was for or was it at the time the passenger was out of his vehicle? Unless the passenger specifically told the driver what his intentions were, how was he to know?

Did the driver know the passenger before the hire, the answer is no, did the passenger tell the driver what he intended to do? There is no suggestion by the prosecution that he did? Therefore at what stage did the driver know? If it was when the police arrived then he is surely an innocent party no matter what jokes he made about the situation but on the other hand if he was told by the passenger that he intended to make a drugs transaction and he became fully aware of the situation then he made a rod for his own back.

The fact remains that the prosecution never stated he admitted to knowing what was taking place, they offered the suggestion that by his jovial persona after the police arrived that the police drew the conclusion that he did know what was taking place and by doing so he allowed his vehicle to become a party to the crime?

In the real world if the driver had pleaded not guilty the prosecution would have had to prove that he did know what was going on before the police arrived. I doubt very much they could have done that without the admission from the taxi driver that he did know.

Should cab drivers refuse all wait and return jobs on the basis that the passenger might commit an unlawful act?

Regards

JD

Undercover police had been keeping the dealer under surveillance as part of a major drugs operation

I had a situation a while ago when my son asked me for a lift to someones house. He used my mobile to ring ahead. When we arrived at the address and he came out it was obvious to me that he had been buying some weed. After dropping him off I went straight round to the local police station to give them the details. I was half way through the story when the desk sergent stopped me mid sentance and said "so you took your son to buy drugs then?" In a way that made me think if I am not careful I could be in trouble here. I thought I was being a good citizen for trying to give them the address and mobile phone number of a drug dealer but no They were looking to get me so I told them to forget it and left.

Good points JD.

What I was getting at was the driver pleaded guilty......if he stated I hadn't got a clue what he was up to do you think a jury would have convicted him?

The story fails to state where the 'taxi' was hired from....if it was a PH it would have been pre-booked?

If it was HC...it could have been from a rank?

Either was the story does say

Quote:

Undercover police had been keeping the dealer under surveillance as part of a major drugs operation

.

The article doesn't say an awful lot....so I'm suspecting we're both missing something.

regards

CC

so if i pick up some bloke from the rank, asks to go to b but via c to his ex wife house, the punter says just popping in to the ex wifes to sort her out

could this be , paying maintainance, giving a helping hand, or commit assault

now as the punter has told me he is going round to sort her out, those would be the words i would say to the police, not knowing how he is going to sort her out, am i then part of the problem just by picking them up

Author:	Brummie Cabbie [ Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:02 am ]
Post subject:	Taxi Driver Admitted Drugs Offence
Town Taxi Driver Admitted Drugs Offence 23rd September 2008 A Redditch taxi driver was arrested after giving a drug dealer a lift to a pub car park in the town, Worcester Crown Court was told. Undercover police had been keeping the dealer under surveillance as part of a major drugs operation, said Kerry Moreton, prosecuting. Other defendants had been sentenced and the principal had received four-and-a-half years in jail. She said that the taxi driver, 35-year-old Assad Mehmood, joked with the police as he gave them an empty plastic bag, so he knew what was going on. Mehmood, of Dawberry Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, who pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of drugs, was given a 12-month community order with 100 hours unpaid work. Mohammed Latif, defending, said Mehmood had no previous convictions and only became aware that drugs were being supplied when the police arrived. Judge Andrew Geddes said Mehmood had received no payment but should have driven off when he realised his cab was being used for the supply of drugs. Source; Redditch Standard

Author:	JD [ Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:59 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Taxi Driver Admitted Drugs Offence
Brummie Cabbie wrote: Town Taxi Driver Admitted Drugs Offence 23rd September 2008 A Redditch taxi driver was arrested after giving a drug dealer a lift to a pub car park in the town, Worcester Crown Court was told. Undercover police had been keeping the dealer under surveillance as part of a major drugs operation, said Kerry Moreton, prosecuting. Other defendants had been sentenced and the principal had received four-and-a-half years in jail. She said that the taxi driver, 35-year-old Assad Mehmood, joked with the police as he gave them an empty plastic bag, so he knew what was going on. Mehmood, of Dawberry Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, who pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of drugs, was given a 12-month community order with 100 hours unpaid work. Mohammed Latif, defending, said Mehmood had no previous convictions and only became aware that drugs were being supplied when the police arrived. Judge Andrew Geddes said Mehmood had received no payment but should have driven off when he realised his cab was being used for the supply of drugs. Source; Redditch Standard Interesting case. Assuming the driver didn't know his passenger was going on a drugs run when he hired him then he had no reason to refuse the fare, in fact he would have been compelled to take the fare under taxi legislation. It would appear he committed an offence when he realised what was taking place but he says he only knew what was taking place when the police arrived? If the driver had told the police he wasn't aware of what took place and neither was he interested and that under those circumstances he was obliged by law to transport the passenger, might he have got off with the charge? What if the fare was in the region of 30 or 40 pounds would you still drive away if you had an inkling of what was taking place or would you wait for your passenger? If you had money up front then perhaps you might but the law states you have to wait if you are given a deposit to wait. I think this drivers solicitor might not have done the driver justice by agreeing an admission of guilt. I don't condone what transpired but taxi drivers are not immune to these type of circumstances where criminals find it convenient to use unsuspecting taxi drivers in their criminal activities. I suppose if something like this ever happens to you and the police try to rope you into the events by suggesting you let your vehicle be used for a criminal act then I hope you put up a more spirited defence if you believe you are innocent. Regards JD

Author:	Brummie Cabbie [ Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:10 pm ]
Post subject:
Your views Mr JD, & which are mine too, are exactly why I posted this news item, which on the face of it seems quite a poor story. What on earth are cabbies supposed to do? Would the same apply to bus drivers, or coach drivers?

Author:	echo15 [ Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:25 pm ]
Post subject:
We all must do it often, pick someone up from one house take them to another house on a wait and return? They didn't go in there to pat the dog ffs!

Author:	captain cab [ Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:39 pm ]
Post subject:
Interesting points...but the following is stated; Quote: Mehmood, joked with the police as he gave them an empty plastic bag, so he knew what was going on. and Quote: Mehmood, of Dawberry Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, who pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of drugs call me a little cynical....but if he didnt know what was going on why joke with police and give the impression he did....and why plead guilty? If he was innocent surely he would have said....'errm I was sent on this job by my radio circuit...go check with them?' CC

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Author:	JD [ Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:37 pm ]
Post subject:
captain cab wrote: Mehmood, joked with the police as he gave them an empty plastic bag, so he knew what was going on. The driver said he knew what was going on when the police arrived, it was the prosecutor who opined that he new what was going on before the police arrived. The driver never denied knowing what was going on but he stated that he only became aware when the police arrived. At what stage of the hire are you suggesting that he knew the purpose of the hire was for a drugs transaction? When was the offence committed, was it committed at the time he first realised what the purpose of the hire was for or was it at the time the passenger was out of his vehicle? Unless the passenger specifically told the driver what his intentions were, how was he to know? Did the driver know the passenger before the hire, the answer is no, did the passenger tell the driver what he intended to do? There is no suggestion by the prosecution that he did? Therefore at what stage did the driver know? If it was when the police arrived then he is surely an innocent party no matter what jokes he made about the situation but on the other hand if he was told by the passenger that he intended to make a drugs transaction and he became fully aware of the situation then he made a rod for his own back. The fact remains that the prosecution never stated he admitted to knowing what was taking place, they offered the suggestion that by his jovial persona after the police arrived that the police drew the conclusion that he did know what was taking place and by doing so he allowed his vehicle to become a party to the crime? In the real world if the driver had pleaded not guilty the prosecution would have had to prove that he did know what was going on before the police arrived. I doubt very much they could have done that without the admission from the taxi driver that he did know. Should cab drivers refuse all wait and return jobs on the basis that the passenger might commit an unlawful act? Regards JD

Author:	grandad [ Wed Sep 24, 2008 6:05 pm ]
Post subject:
I had a situation a while ago when my son asked me for a lift to someones house. He used my mobile to ring ahead. When we arrived at the address and he came out it was obvious to me that he had been buying some weed. After dropping him off I went straight round to the local police station to give them the details. I was half way through the story when the desk sergent stopped me mid sentance and said "so you took your son to buy drugs then?" In a way that made me think if I am not careful I could be in trouble here. I thought I was being a good citizen for trying to give them the address and mobile phone number of a drug dealer but no They were looking to get me so I told them to forget it and left.

Author:	Sussex [ Wed Sep 24, 2008 6:39 pm ]
Post subject:
Is there anyone on here that hasn't been on a drugs run of sorts? Not saying anyone on here condones such activities, but it happens all the time.

Author:	wannabeeahack [ Wed Sep 24, 2008 6:40 pm ]
Post subject:
not long ago, i was passing home whilst returning from a drop as a PAYE employee, i nipped in home, the wife was feeling "ahem", friendly, so a while later i went back to work all smiles as id been paid for having sex was a prostitute?... what goes on in the back, stays in the back im just glad im not a taxi driver

Author:	captain cab [ Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:34 pm ]
Post subject:
JD wrote: captain cab wrote: Mehmood, joked with the police as he gave them an empty plastic bag, so he knew what was going on. The driver said he knew what was going on when the police arrived, it was the prosecutor who opined that he new what was going on before the police arrived. The driver never denied knowing what was going on but he stated that he only became aware when the police arrived. At what stage of the hire are you suggesting that he knew the purpose of the hire was for a drugs transaction? When was the offence committed, was it committed at the time he first realised what the purpose of the hire was for or was it at the time the passenger was out of his vehicle? Unless the passenger specifically told the driver what his intentions were, how was he to know? Did the driver know the passenger before the hire, the answer is no, did the passenger tell the driver what he intended to do? There is no suggestion by the prosecution that he did? Therefore at what stage did the driver know? If it was when the police arrived then he is surely an innocent party no matter what jokes he made about the situation but on the other hand if he was told by the passenger that he intended to make a drugs transaction and he became fully aware of the situation then he made a rod for his own back. The fact remains that the prosecution never stated he admitted to knowing what was taking place, they offered the suggestion that by his jovial persona after the police arrived that the police drew the conclusion that he did know what was taking place and by doing so he allowed his vehicle to become a party to the crime? In the real world if the driver had pleaded not guilty the prosecution would have had to prove that he did know what was going on before the police arrived. I doubt very much they could have done that without the admission from the taxi driver that he did know. Should cab drivers refuse all wait and return jobs on the basis that the passenger might commit an unlawful act? Regards JD Good points JD. What I was getting at was the driver pleaded guilty......if he stated I hadn't got a clue what he was up to do you think a jury would have convicted him? The story fails to state where the 'taxi' was hired from....if it was a PH it would have been pre-booked? If it was HC...it could have been from a rank? Either was the story does say Quote: Undercover police had been keeping the dealer under surveillance as part of a major drugs operation . The article doesn't say an awful lot....so I'm suspecting we're both missing something. regards CC

Author:	Brummie Cabbie [ Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:56 pm ]
Post subject:
grandad wrote: I had a situation a while ago when my son asked me for a lift to someones house. He used my mobile to ring ahead. When we arrived at the address and he came out it was obvious to me that he had been buying some weed. After dropping him off I went straight round to the local police station to give them the details. I was half way through the story when the desk sergent stopped me mid sentance and said "so you took your son to buy drugs then?" In a way that made me think if I am not careful I could be in trouble here. I thought I was being a good citizen for trying to give them the address and mobile phone number of a drug dealer but no They were looking to get me so I told them to forget it and left. Because the police now have to get their targets; its all about making sure they nick enough people. And you might have been about to confirm the sergeants question, "so you took your son to buy drugs then?" That would have given him a very easy nick & you would have been just another number towards his target. Never mind that you were in effect acting as a well meaning informant. The way the sergeant saw it was, 'Ah another number for my target'. Sad, sad world we live in as far as the police are concerned.

Author:	JD [ Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:23 pm ]
Post subject:
captain cab wrote: Good points JD. What I was getting at was the driver pleaded guilty......if he stated I hadn't got a clue what he was up to do you think a jury would have convicted him? The story fails to state where the 'taxi' was hired from....if it was a PH it would have been pre-booked? If it was HC...it could have been from a rank? Either was the story does say Quote: Undercover police had been keeping the dealer under surveillance as part of a major drugs operation . The article doesn't say an awful lot....so I'm suspecting we're both missing something. regards CC You are right about not being in possesion of the full facts and its a pity but I suppose we will never know why he pleaded guilty when his mitigation in court was based on the fact that he wasn't aware what was going on until the police arrived. The lenient sentence leads me to believe that the driver wasn't involved in the plot so I'm rather mystified why he was prosecuted? I suppose there is no point in thrashing out a reason why, when the jigsaw is missing some vital pieces. Regards Jd

Author:	Stinky Pete [ Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:25 pm ]
Post subject:
so if i pick up some bloke from the rank, asks to go to b but via c to his ex wife house, the punter says just popping in to the ex wifes to sort her out could this be , paying maintainance, giving a helping hand, or commit assault now as the punter has told me he is going round to sort her out, those would be the words i would say to the police, not knowing how he is going to sort her out, am i then part of the problem just by picking them up

Author:	captain cab [ Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:46 pm ]
Post subject:
Stinky Pete wrote: so if i pick up some bloke from the rank, asks to go to b but via c to his ex wife house, the punter says just popping in to the ex wifes to sort her out could this be , paying maintainance, giving a helping hand, or commit assault now as the punter has told me he is going round to sort her out, those would be the words i would say to the police, not knowing how he is going to sort her out, am i then part of the problem just by picking them up So you'd tell the police you took the passenger around to the house because he wanted to 'sort her out'? Or would you say....'he only said he wanted to go to Arcacia Rd'? CC

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Author:	grandad [ Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:32 pm ]
Post subject:
How did you know it was Arcacia Road.