Former Met officer jailed for drugs cash conspiracy following investigation directed by IOPC 

Our directed investigation has resulted in former Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Constable Kashif Mahmood of MPS’ Central East command being sentenced to eight years in jail after admitting conspiracy to acquire criminal property and misconduct in public office.

The investigation, conducted by the MPS under our direction, established that PC Mahmood used a police patrol car to intercept drug-running cash from couriers in a conspiracy to acquire criminal property. His accomplices were all civilian and one posed as a police officer, wearing uniform provided to him.

The cash was either due to be laundered or had been provided to the couriers as payment for drugs.

At around 5.30pm on 8 March, 2020, Mahmood, who was off duty on sick leave, used another officer’s name to book out a police Vauxhall Astra. Mahmood and associate Ioan Gherghel went in the car to Balgonie Road, Chingford.

A man, suspected of being a courier of criminal property, was already under surveillance by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service’s pro-active money laundering team.

The marked police car with Mahmood and Gherghel inside, both wearing police uniform, stopped the courier’s car and searched the vehicle. They took the bag, which the court heard contained a sizeable amount of cash, and another £2,000 in cash. They did not arrest the man.

The MPS team then stopped Mahmood to find out why he had searched the courier’s car. Mahmood identified himself as a police officer and Gherghel named himself as a police officer. Ghergel was wearing a stab proof vest.

Mahmood said they were carrying out an anti-drugs campaign in the area and this ‘search’ was part of the initiative.

The MPS team was suspicious and contacted the MPS’ Directorate of Professional Standards. Later, the courier also visited a police station to report money had been taken from him by a police officer.

On another occasion, on 25 March 2020, Mahmood travelled to Wembley, West London in a police vehicle, stopping at an address in Stratford, East London before making the journey at speeds of up to 96 miles per hour. Mahmood and an accomplice then stole criminal property, believed to be around £450,000, from a courier. The money was the proceeds of drug-running.

Mahmood enjoyed trips to Dubai, from where the organised crime gang was orchestrated, and indulged in a lavish lifestyle, including purchasing a £6,000 Rolex watch.

Mahmood, from Harlow in Essex, was arrested on 28 April, 2020 and pleaded guilty to the offences at Southwark Crown Court on August 5, 2020.

He was due to be sentenced at the Southwark Crown Court on 22 December alongside four other men and a woman, none of them police officers, who were charged with various offences including conspiracy to acquire criminal property. The hearing was delayed for legal reasons.

The others – Ioan Gherghel, Moshin Khan, Shabaz Khan, Shazad Khan, and Maria Shah - were given jail sentences totalling more than 56 years.

Mahmood was dismissed from the force without notice in November last year following a gross misconduct hearing.

Director of Major Investigations Steve Noonan said:

“This officer’s behaviour was audacious, corrupt and criminal. His actions were a complete betrayal of public trust and confidence and have no place in policing.

“As a body completely independent of the police, the IOPC oversaw this matter to provide assurance it was being investigated thoroughly and impartially by the MPS.

“This investigation has now resulted in a conviction and lengthy sentence for PC Mahmood. It sends a clear signal to police officers who engage in corrupt activity that they will be caught, and they can expect to pay a high price for their crimes.

“While all the evidence we have seen points towards this being an isolated case of police corruption on this scale, we have to remain vigilant and will continue to pursue allegations of corruption vigorously.”