Op Venetic: Liverpool man jailed for firearms and Class A drugs offences

A 30-year-old Liverpool man has been jailed for 12-and-a-half years after admitting firearms and Class A drug offences.

Yousef Mohamed, of Selborne Street, Toxteth, was arrested as part of Operation Venetic and charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, namely cocaine, and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, namely cannabis.

He was also charged with possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition without a certificate. This is the first conviction for firearms offences in Merseyside based on Operation Venetic material only.

Mohamed, who was attributed to the handle Arabian-knight, was arrested on 21 January this year. A warrant was executed at a flat on Upper Parliament Street where officers recovered documents with his name on, over £11,000 in cash, nearly £9,000 of clothing and possessions and drugs including 1kg of cannabis, cocaine, ketamine and MDMA with an estimated street value of £20,000.

On 18th May officers recovered the firearm and nine rounds of ammunition concealed within undergrowth on Upper Huskisson Street. It was found to be a fully viable working weapon.

Mohamed pleaded guilty to the offences and was sentenced today, Thursday 22 July, to 12-and-a-half years in prison.

Detective Sergeant Daniel Pilling said: “Today we have seen another criminal put behind bars as part of national Operation Venetic.

“Significantly this will be the first conviction for firearms offences in Merseyside based on Operation Venetic material only.

“I am pleased that we have been able to put this man behind bars and equally importantly removed a potentially lethal weapon, ammunition and Class A drugs from the streets of Merseyside.

"Our message to other people who are involved in this type of criminality remains clear: expect that knock at the door sooner rather than later.

“Merseyside Police, along with law enforcement agencies across the world, will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of those people who think they are above the law, and we will continue to target anyone involved in serious organised crime to keep this positive momentum going."