Two West Midlands Police officers have been convicted of plotting to steal and sell drugs for profit following an investigation carried out by the force’s own counter corruption unit.
The officers were also convicted of abusing their positions to access confidential police intelligence systems.
Wahid Husman, aged 47, and Tahsib Majid, aged 35, both constables based in Birmingham, used their roles to conspire to steal quantities of Class A and B drugs.
Husman accessed police computer systems to feed information to a number of criminal associates. While Majid committed a Data Protection offence on behalf of an associate. Five other men have also been convicted following the police investigation.
A surveillance operation, led by the force’s counter corruption unit, captured the officers talking about drug dealing on duty and conspiring with criminal associates to steal a consignment of illegal drugs destined for Birmingham. The group planned to split the drugs between them to supply for their own gain.
Majid was convicted of misconduct in a public office, conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to possess drugs with intent to supply and unlawful disclosure of personal data, following a short trial at Birmingham Crown Court. Husman had earlier pleaded guilty to drug offences, conspiracy to steal and misconduct in a public office at the start of the trial.
Husman and Majid, who were investigation officers based at Perry Barr, were suspended following their arrest in February 2017. Both officers will now face dismissal from West Midlands Police. Five other people arrested in connection with the investigation also admitted to a number of offences. All will be sentenced in October.
All were arrested in February 2017 by officers from the force’s counter corruption unit. A counter corruption investigation revealed that Husman began accessing police computer systems as far back as 2011, when he started to feed intelligence and information to some of his co-accused Shazad Mushtaq, Imaan Haidri and Akeesh Rasab.
Following his arrest in February 2017, officers searched Husman’s address and found £7,000 cash and heroin.
Shazad Mushtaq, aged 42, also admitted possessing, with intent to supply, heroin and cocaine. In November 2016, Mushtaq was stopped by officers in his car in Walsall and drugs were recovered. Further drugs were found following a search at his home address in Ward End.
Tahsib Majid worked on the same team as Husman and together they abused their positions to play key roles within the criminal group and carry out their crimes, while on duty together. Majid was also found guilty of a further offence of unlawfully disclosing personal information after it was found he had given details of a person in custody to a friend. Deputy Chief Constable, Louisa Rolfe said:
"Today’s court result reflects our determination to weed out any corruption within the force. This is an exceptional case and, thankfully, such serious criminal corruption is very rare. These officers brazenly abused their positions and carried out their offending while on duty. They let down their colleagues, friends and families but, fundamentally, the communities served by West Midlands Police.
"I would concur with the judge’s comments that they have disgraced the uniform. This investigation is an example of the brilliant and complex work of our counter corruption unit. Let me be clear: if you are corrupt we will track you down and you will face prosecution.
"There is absolutely no place in policing for those who abuse the trust placed in us by the public. We expect the highest standards of those who work in the organisation and the vast majority of officers and staff uphold these high standards. It is devastating for hard working and committed officers when they are so let down by a colleague."
