Cops sell drug dealer's car for cash

Seb Ramsey

April 25, 2006

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CAR: GMP and the Audi.

CAR: GMP and the Audi. 1/2 Play Slideshow

A FLASH car used by a dealer to peddle drugs is being sold - and the cash raised will be used to fight crime.

The Audi A4 was awarded to Greater Manchester Police by the courts after they smashed a major drug ring.

The vehicle belonged to Wasim Iqbal, 22, who was jailed for six and a half years last month for conspiracy to supply class A drugs and driving while disqualified.

Now the police are using the é14,000 car in an anti-crime display which will go on tour to encourage people to report anyone they suspect of dealing drugs.

And when the car finishes its tour, they plan to sell it to fund new crime- fighting initiatives.

Undercover

Iqbal, of Crescent Road, Bolton was a member of the ring which was jailed for a total of 38 years after a undercover operation led to the conviction of 11 men.

Operation Blade saw 22 addresses across the Great Lever area of Bolton raided in September last year and led to a number of convictions for conspiracy to supply drugs, as well as for possession of controlled drugs and disqualified driving.

More than 200 officers were involved in the operation, which involved undercover police officers buying drugs. During the raids more than é4,500 worth of drugs were seized.

Supt Andy Durkin said property was often confiscated from criminals He said: "The Proceeds of Crime Act gives us the opportunity to do this.

"The courts are giving us criminals' cars and houses, and we want to show people what we're doing with them. It demonstrates to people that the system does work."

WHAT do you think of police selling the cars and houses of known criminals? Have your say.

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Showing comments 1 to 18 and replies | View All

Ron Traps, Manchester (25/04/2006 at 09:30)

Its a good idea, i think if convicted they should be stripped of all assets

A different 'Me', Manchester (25/04/2006 at 10:17)

This is a good idea! Then any monies gained from this can go towards fighting more drug crime.

Sue, ashton under lyne (25/04/2006 at 10:17)

Shock news!
Police do something right.
Its also very funny that the cash from ill gotten gains will be used to fight crime.

Must have felt like crying-shame

Ross, Manchester (25/04/2006 at 10:19)

Not seen anything so funny in ages, I hope GMP send him 1 last photo of his car for his cell wall.
Ha!

chris, mcr (25/04/2006 at 11:05)

an excellemt idea a long time in coming as a jp its nice to see the powers being used, although i wouldnt sell the car i would of marked it up and put blue lights on it.

Lars, Wembley WA (25/04/2006 at 11:20)

Well, that's one good thing the GMP are doing.

Tubby Scruff, In a bookies (25/04/2006 at 12:16)

I saw this car in Farnworth..well done Policemen ! Shame the MEN didnt print a picture of the signs the Police had put all over it.

Anybody wanting to buy it..all it needs are furry dice to make it complete pimp dealers car.

I dont knbow why he didnt have a illuminated sign on the roof saying buy here.

If the Police wake up, they'll discover many many more cars like Wasim Iqbals in Bolton.
Try the Haugh for a start.

Sue, Salford (25/04/2006 at 13:10)

I think it's a brilliant idea - the only downside is that they would then demand a council house and do a really needy family out of this precious commodity!

Jake long, Manchester, City Centre (25/04/2006 at 13:22)

What happens if there is, as is often the case, a miscarriage of justice and a suspect is acquitted on appeal? Are the police going to parade the suspect's car around with a giant apology on it saying WE MESSED UP AGAIN, SORRY FOR RUINING THIS PERSONS LIFE! This is also wide open to corruption just like speed cameras. The organisation that brings about the prosecution stands to benefit and so cannot be impartial.

Harvey Hudson, Newton Heath, Manchester (25/04/2006 at 14:28)

I think that the Police selling off drug dealers assets, like flash cars and fancy houses, to fund public awareness initiatives of reporting the activities of other drug dealing in Greater Manchester is the best common sense use of these funds imaginable, however, perhaps some of the money could be given to vitims of crime too. Well done GMP.

Anthony, Accrington,Lancashire (25/04/2006 at 15:31)

NO Jake, it's right for the Police to sell off these miscreants assets and property;they shouldn't be selling and dealing drugs FULL STOP.

mike, nottingham (25/04/2006 at 17:21)

of course it's a good idea for once police r demonstrating that crime dosen't pay

Bob, Farnworth (25/04/2006 at 18:13)

Jake, you speak absolute nonsense. I work VERY closely with the justice system and I can assure you that if the police manage to get a criminal before a Crown Court then 99.9 % of the time they are guilty otherwise the CPS would not run it. I know people get off at court but most of the time that does not mean they have not done it, it means their extremely well paid solicitor has found a loop hole in the law and gets them off or witnesses have been PERSUADED not to turn up. This does not mean they are innocent. Police do not ruin lives, drug dealers do. They are behind most of the miserable aspects of our life, gun crime, violence, thieving, mugging old ladies and the demise of whole estates into no go areas. The police don't just pick random people and take their assets from them, if only it was that easy!

peter, chor`lton (25/04/2006 at 20:06)

I think its laughable that the best the police can do is a 14k cars, is this seriously the best they can do ?

Tubby Scruff, On location (26/04/2006 at 09:04)

To Bob :
You know the difference taking the dealers out if your from Farnworth. A few years ago, they walloped a few of them and what a difference almost overnight to crime, ect. It also became a better place to live.

There are a few left and many know who they are, I for one have no second thoughts about shopping them or even keeping my own record of the activities of these scumbag dealers.
Some will call me racist but 19 year old Asian boys driving 40K Mercedes round a council estate, no visible signs of legitimate incomes....and it's not Amir Khan, who in my opinion is a great kid and should be an example to many.

the original ME, MANCHESTER (26/04/2006 at 10:47)

Well done to the police although im with Tubby Scruff (on his opinion im not actually in the bookies with him) that you can usually spot these cars a mile off in the Haugh

Si, Manchester (26/04/2006 at 13:20)

Great idea, i think it's about time these scummers had their stuff taken off them, after all they've generally robbed off other people etc to get them. The only thing is though, I'd never buy a car that had been sold by the police to me, after them taking ot from a dealer. I'll bet whoever does end up owning it will definitely get a visit once it's spotted!!

Colin W, Stockholm (28/04/2006 at 07:49)

drug dealers should be executed, full stop, and i'm available to pull the lever. But thats right the PC do-gooders and religious fanatics are against that arent they. Lets see if their attitude changes if their child is lying dead in a gutter from an overdose. I'd sleep well at night knowing of a job well done!

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