A 59-year-old London magistrate has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his involvement in a drug supply operation dealing with heroin and crack cocaine in the city. Purshotam Dhillon allowed gang leader Hardeep Thind to use his home in Hounslow, west London, as a hub for storing drugs and money, providing an air of respectability to the criminal activities.
Working alongside Thind, who operated the “Hadi” drugs line while incarcerated, Dhillon supported the distribution of heroin and crack cocaine across London. Along with Thind, two co-defendants, Bikramjit Brar and Leandrea Lynch, were also sentenced for their roles in the drug supply network.
Dhillon received a seven-year prison term, Thind, known as Harry Singh, was sentenced to 12 years, Brar was jailed for three years and four months, and Lynch was given a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence. Detective Inspector Mark Gavin of the Met’s Specialist Crime praised the investigation that exposed a well-established criminal network responsible for distributing large quantities of class A drugs in London, emphasizing the serious consequences for communities.
The Metropolitan Police began investigating the “Hadi” drugs line in January 2024, identifying Thind as the central figure. Despite serving a 17-year prison sentence, Thind continued to direct operations from prison using a mobile phone, expanding the drug operation upon his release. Dhillon, identified as a key accomplice due to his drug addiction, Brar, involved in drug distribution, and Lynch, acting as a runner, were arrested in coordinated police raids in July 2024.
During the arrests, officers uncovered evidence of drug activities at Dhillon’s residence, including a van linked to Thind containing a significant amount of heroin. The seized drugs were valued at £174,000, with additional evidence of drug packaging found in Dhillon’s home. Singh and Brar pleaded guilty to drug supply charges, while Dhillon and Lynch were convicted after a trial.