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A shocking case of international drug trafficking has concluded at Birmingham Crown Court, where Farzana Kauser, 54, a mother from Waterlily Road, Manningham, Bradford, was sentenced on Friday, July 18, 2025, to 13 years and four months in prison. Kauser admitted to importing a staggering 180kg of cocaine, with an estimated street value of £14.4 million, into the UK from Mexico.
The sophisticated operation saw Kauser involve her own children, including a then 17-year-old son, to act as couriers for the illicit cargo. The National Crime Agency (NCA) revealed the extent of Kauser's involvement, describing her as "very well practised in her life as a high-end cocaine trafficker."
International Links and a Deceptive Scheme
Kauser's arrest occurred on November 11, 2024, at Birmingham Airport, as she collected her four sons, daughter, and daughter-in-law returning from Cancun, Mexico. Their suitcases were found to be loaded with the significant haul of cocaine.
Rick Mackenzie, NCA Senior Investigating Officer, highlighted Kauser's deceptive persona: "To her friends and people who thought they knew her, Farzana Kauser was a thoughtful, loving mum who seemed very normal." He further condemned her actions, stating, "She pushed her children into huge danger and has allowed their futures to be effectively destroyed." He specifically noted the involvement of her youngest son, who was "encouraged to play a major role in couriering drugs into the country" at just 17 years old.
Crucially, investigations by the NCA uncovered that Kauser had been working with an unidentified accomplice in Pakistan, known only as "Uncle," who facilitated the cocaine smuggling from Cancun. This international connection highlights the complex web of organised crime involved. Despite Kauser's claims that she was merely collecting her children, evidence showed that some of the drugs were intended for an awaiting courier, while the remainder was to be transported back to Kauser's home for further distribution.
A Pattern of Illicit Journeys
The brazen operation was not a one-off. The NCA's diligent work uncovered that this was the fifth time the group had successfully couriered cocaine into Birmingham Airport between August and November 2024.
Their modus operandi involved short, one or two-night trips to Amsterdam or Dublin, oddly without any luggage. Their return flights to Birmingham were meticulously timed to coincide with arrivals from Cancun, where an "insider" would be bringing suitcases full of drugs. The family would then proceed to the Cancun baggage carousel to collect these bags, subsequently walking through customs as if returning with their own personal luggage. This elaborate method allowed them to evade suspicion for months.
Family Members Also Sentenced
Farzana Kauser's four eldest children, who admitted their roles in the conspiracy, have also received significant prison sentences. Their full names, as provided in court documents, are:
Umair Mohammed, 22, of Waterlily Road, Bradford, was jailed for eight years and one month.
Junaid Shaffaq, 33, of Waterlily Road, Bradford, was jailed for 10 years and nine months.
Mohammed Shaffaq, 28, of Waterlily Road, Bradford, was jailed for eight years and nine months.
Safa Noor, 20, of Waterlily Road, Bradford, was jailed for seven years and two months.
Her daughter-in-law, Sarah Hussain, 28, of Hollybank Road, Bradford, who pleaded guilty to participating in the activities of an organised crime group, received a two-year suspended sentence.
Kauser's youngest son, Hamza Shaffaq, 18, of Waterlily Road, Bradford, who also pleaded guilty to participating in the activities of an organised crime group, is awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for October 7, 2025.
This case serves as a stark warning about the ruthless nature of organised crime and the devastating consequences for those who become entangled in it, particularly when family members are exploited for illicit activities that span international borders.
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