Two police officers were said to have disgraced their uniforms after plotting to steal and sell drugs to a crime gang for thousands of pounds.
Wahid Husman, 47, and his award-winning colleague Tahsib Majid, 35, two West Midlands Police constables who are based in Birmingham, used their roles to conspire to steal quantities of Class A and B drugs.
Part of the plot involved using a marked police car to stop a vehicle used by a drugs courier in order to steal the drugs before selling them to an organised crime network.
Tahsib Majid (left) was convicted of various offences at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday. Wahid Husman had earlier pleaded guilty to drug offences, conspiracy to steal and misconduct in a public office at the start of the trial
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 yesterday.
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 police station in Birmingham, were suspended following their arrest in February 2017. Both officers will now face dismissal from West Midlands Police.
Five other men, who are not police officers, admitted offences including possession of drugs, conspiracy to supply drugs and conspiring with Husman to benefit from his access to sensitive police information.
Anti-corruption investigators arrested both police officers in February 2017 when officers found more than £7,000 cash and heroin at Husman’s address.
After the hearing, 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.’
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 yesterday
She added: ‘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.
‘There is absolutely no hiding place in West Midlands Police for corrupt officers.’
Paul Lodato, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: ‘These two men were experienced police officers who abused their position of trust to work with
criminal gangs to arrange for the supply of drugs.
‘The prosecution built a strong case and in the face of the evidence against him Wahid Husman admitted his guilt, while Tahsib Majid was convicted following trial.’
All defendants will be sentenced on a date yet to be fixed.