A 59-year-old London magistrate, Purshotam Dhillon, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his involvement in a drug supply operation distributing heroin and crack cocaine across the capital. Dhillon provided a facade of respectability by allowing gang leader Hardeep Thind to use his home in Hounslow, west London, as a base for storing drugs and cash. Thind, also known as Harry Singh, managed the “Hadi” drugs line while incarcerated, with the assistance of Dhillon and two other co-defendants, Bikramjit Brar and Leandrea Lynch, who were sentenced to prison terms ranging from two-and-a-half years suspended to 12 years.
Detective Inspector Mark Gavin, from the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime unit, described the investigation as intricate and far-reaching, revealing an organized crime network responsible for distributing significant quantities of class A drugs in London. The operation, led by Thind from prison, was dismantled in coordinated police raids that resulted in arrests and the seizure of drugs valued at £174,000 from Dhillon’s property. Thind, Brar, Dhillon, and Lynch faced charges related to their involvement in the drug supply chain, with Singh and Brar pleading guilty and Dhillon and Lynch being convicted after a trial.
The Metropolitan Police initiated the investigation into the “Hadi” drugs line in January 2024, identifying Thind as the central figure directing operations from prison and expanding the operation post-release. Dhillon, a known drug addict, played a significant role as Thind’s key associate, while Brar handled drug distribution and Lynch acted as a runner. The arrests and subsequent legal proceedings underscored the message that no one, not even a serving magistrate, is above the law, emphasizing accountability for criminal activities.
