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Update 4 of 5 Significant collaboration with the East Midlands Serious Operations Unit (EMSOU) has resulted in four arrests in the Lincolnshire area.
In an earlier operation linked to Op Machinize - the National Crime Agency co-ordinated multi-agency operation, enforced by local officers in Lincolnshire - Skegness Neighbourhood Policing Teams joined specialist partners in 12 simultaneous enforcements carried out in the Lumley Road area of Skegness, Eastgate area of Louth, and Stratford Road in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham as part of a pre-planned operation in the summer (19 August).
These enforcements were linked to a network of mobile phone scams and money laundering which turned out to be a significant fraud setup affecting thousands of victims across the country, but for operational reasons we’ve been unable to share this result until now.
Four men have since been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and conspiracy to transfer criminal property:
Ghulam Dastgeer, 34, Yasir Shahzad, 33, and Ashan Sohail, 29, all of Sunningdale Drive, Skegness, and Muhammed Javed, 25, North Holme Road, all pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and conspiracy to transfer criminal property (money laundering). They remain on remand until their next hearing, with a trial date set for 26 April 2026.
Investigations have exposed hundreds of thousands, potentially millions, of pounds-worth of cash regularly being moved out of the UK to Pakistan, both physically and via digital transfer Money Service Bureaus (MSBs).
Highly organised criminals preyed on their victims by cold calling them, offering attractive upgrade packages leading to unsuspecting victims providing their details, including bank account information. The elaborate scam resulted in victims being tied into contracts, without a phone.
Further searches uncovered a significant amount of cash, approximately £40,000, which was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
EMSOU’s Senior Criminal Finance Manager Graham Prince said: “We see the cost of frauds of this kind mount up because it can often be hard for people to distinguish between a genuine offer and a scam.
“The rule of thumb is to be naturally wary of unsolicited contact from people trying to sell you wares, offer services or tempt you into upgrades.
“Criminals use various methods and means to con people - whether it is in person, via a doorstep call or a cold call over the phone, a letter in the mail, or over social media and email – so be vigilant to their attempts.
“Always verify the service or offer being made in other ways. If in doubt, never give your details out.
“We work hard to identify and prosecute the organised crime groups running these types of frauds, as they can often be involved in other types of crime, such as tax evasion and money laundering, as well as counterfeit goods and even organised immigration crime. This way, we can stop it at its core, as well as seize any ill-gotten gains that can then be used to reimburse victims and contribute to community safety initiatives.”
Of the overall operation, Inspector Paul Sands who co-ordinated the Op Machinize enforcements said: “The concealment of these items shows their importance to organised crime. Revenue from these products fuels complex criminal networks involved in trafficking, narcotics, and financial fraud—issues that impact us all.
“Our visits to premises are more than enforcement; they’re intelligence-gathering opportunities that help us trace operations back to their source and remove unsafe goods from the market.
“Collaboration is our strongest weapon. By joining forces with partners and communities, we ensure that criminal enterprises face constant disruption and accountability.”
Stay tuned tomorrow for the last in our series about this co-ordinated crackdown.  | |
Report it
We call on the public to stand with us. Community support is vital — by reporting suspicious activity via the correct channels and refusing to engage with illegal trade or scams, residents can play a crucial role in helping us dismantle these harmful networks, keeping Lincolnshire safe for everyone.
If you have any information or concerns, please reach out. There are a number of ways you can do this:
Speak with our officers at our various engagement opportunities
Email your local NPTs directly via the dedicated neighbourhood policing sections of our website: https://www.lincs.police.uk/area/your-area/
Chat with us while we’re on foot patrols
Call 101
Or speak / email anonymously, via Crimestoppers: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously
Always call 999 in an emergency.
All intelligence is handled sensitively and confidentially.
Together, we can continue to target drug-related crime and protect our communities.
#OpMachinize
Previous releases
Op Machinize: Extensive criminal network disruption across Lincolnshire https://www.facebook.com/lincspolice/posts/pfbid0Ho4MsnqEYA4XRCXj8UpNwuLBU8U1Wt4i9JKyBKSZmedqLNdRg6W4V6gcFHvKz9pxl#
Op Machinize: Four arrests, 11 sacks of illicit tobacco seized in Boston https://www.facebook.com/lincspolice/posts/pfbid02Cs33QYeDsK3sHJPr93uLjqRPk7sJqrtFrdY5XjUJMP7Z1fRE6EG7kGWxh3cap2V7l#
Op Machinize: How a hidden room, false wall, medicine cabinet and ‘Lazy Susan’ concealed criminality https://www.facebook.com/lincspolice/posts/pfbid02AkPmxBiR9WFk8MCPJL26aoM6CDxPB72A523ahgghKZbb7naFKgk1Lygm9B63fpwgl#
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