An Indian-origin woman in the UK has been sentenced to seven years in jail for being part of a gang who preyed on children to supply drugs, the Metropolitan Police said.
Sarina Duggal, 28, of no fixed address, was convicted along with five others last week at Bournemouth Crown Court after being found guilty of supplying Class A drugs, following a seven-week trial.
The drug supply was controlled in and around London and Birmingham and supplied in Bournemouth, the Metropolitan Police said.
Duggal and gang used vulnerable children to supply Class A drugs -- crack cocaine and heroin to users in Bournemouth.
Police launched an investigation last year after a 16-year-old boy from Farnborough was arrested in Bournemouth for being in possession of a large quantity of crack cocaine and heroin.
A mobile phone was seized from him following his arrest, and he was released under investigation, whilst support mechanisms could be put in place to safeguard him.
Detectives carried out extensive analysis of communications data of key contacts between the offenders, mobile phone downloads including social media conversations between them.
They also trawled through hours of CCTV, looking at a hotel within Bournemouth. Duggal, along with four others, was identified as controlling the aHustle' county drug line, which had operated within Bournemouth.
The 16-year-old child had been working for her.During a targeted operation in September 2022, officers arrested two other gang members and found a large quantity of crack cocaine and heroin.
Additionally, another 16-year-old missing boy from Warwickshire was located within a flat in the Boscombe area of Bournemouth.
"This criminal gang were exploiting two children, both missing from London, to run their County Line from London to Bournemouth and in doing so, placed them at the forefront of the supply chain, exposed to the most risk, whilst they harnessed the profits," Detective Chief Inspector Dan Mitchell said.
A warrant was executed in Birmingham last year resulting in the arrest of the line holders.
"This line showed determination, adapted its methods, and showed it was not to be deflected from its ambition," Judge Jonathan Fuller KC said.
According to Daily Echo, the court heard that Duggal came from a "good family" and had been set to study law before meeting Adam Sheikh -- Duggal's husband and ringleader of the crew, who was handed a 12-year sentence.
"Your hopeful career of being a lawyer is now clearly dashed. You recognise you've thrown away a promising future through your choice of becoming a drug dealer," Judge Fuller KC told Duggal before sentencing her to prison.
All the six dealers were sentenced to a combined total of 39 years and six months in prison by the Bournemouth Crown Court.
"The teenagers were not prosecuted and were referred to Children's Services from respective local authorities.
Bhavan’s Little Learners celebrate annual programme
The Bhavan’s Little Learners, Bordowali celebrated annual programme and organised prize distribution ceremony here at Agartala Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan on Wednesday.
Govt working to boost agricultural production to make Tripura self-reliant: Minister Ratan Lal Nath
The Tripura government is contemplating to make Tripura self-reliant in agricultural production, said agriculture minister Ratan Lal Nath on Wednesday.
Scholarship Fraud: Tribal Welfare Dept issues show cause to 34 students
In a major crackdown on scholarship fraud, the Tripura Tribal Welfare Department has issued show cause notices to 34 students for allegedly submitting fake income certificates to avail the Scheduled Tribe (ST) Post-Matric Scholarship for the academic year 2023-24.
Fall of Congress in Gujarat: Three decades of decline and struggle for relevance
The Congress party was once the dominant political force in Gujarat, shaping the state’s governance since independence. However, over the past 30 years, the party has witnessed a dramatic downfall, losing ground to the BJP’s aggressive electoral strategies, organisational strength, and ideological appeal.
‘Disempowering Muslims’: J&K political parties oppose Waqf (Amendment) Bill
All political parties of J&K, except the BJP, opposed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, saying that the Bill is intended to disempower Muslims and only target one religion.
Radical group founder wanted in Jaipur serial blast plot apprehended in Ratlam
The Madhya Pradesh Police in Ratlam achieved a significant breakthrough in apprehending Firoz, also known as Sabji, a fugitive implicated in a conspiracy to execute serial blasts aimed at creating panic and terrorising the Rajasthan capital city of Jaipur.
Amit Shah & Akhilesh Yadav’s lighter exchange in LS over party president
Amid the uproar and heated debate between the ruling party and the Opposition over the Waqf Amendment Bill on Wednesday, the Lok Sabha witnessed some lighter moments between Home Minister Amit Shah and SP President Akhilesh Yadav.
Waqf Bill weakens Constitution, defames minorities, divides society: Gaurav Gogoi
As Parliament debated the contentious Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, on Wednesday, deputy leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi came down heavily on the government.