POLICE continue to hunt for a man described in court as being ‘in charge’ of an Oxfordshire drugs ring. 

Thames Valley Police today reappealed for the public's help in tracking down Sohail Dawood, who the force believes has links to Oxford and Chipping Norton.

The 33-year-old is believed to have headed a drugs operation with the help of his “trusted henchman” Vishal Nazar, a court heard earlier this month. 

Nazar admitted three charges of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs mephedrone, also known as Meow Meow, and ketamine as well as one charge of possessing ketamine with intent to supply and was jailed for five years on August 4 at Oxford Crown Court.

Investigating officer detective inspector Bruce Riddell, of the serious and organised crime unit, said today: "I would appeal to anyone who recognises Dawood, knows where he is or has any other information that might help our investigation to contact police immediately."

They force released two photos, one not publicly seen before, to refresh memories of 5ft 11ins Dawood.

Oxford Mail:

He urged anyone who sees Dawood, who also spends time in Dubai and Pakistan, to keep their distance and call 999."

Two other men, Ciaran Macdonagh and Darren Stagg, were also given prison sentences for their role in the ring, which dealt with drugs worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. 

Nazar was arrested in a dawn raid in his home in Danvers Road, Oxford, in August last year but it emerged in court that a warrant for the arrest of Dawood has been issued and police are yet to track him down.

Speaking at Nazar and Macdonagh’s sentencing, prosecution barrister David Matthew said: “Dawood is believed to be abroad, possibly in India but probably Dubai.

“He was in charge of a great deal of what was going on.”

Mr Matthew said phone evidence showed Dawood was often abroad but was in direct contact with Nazar and that police used the device in his car to listen to the pair.

He said: “The role that the Crown would subscribe to both of these men is that Dawood is in charge of it all but Nazar was his trusted henchman. 
“When Dawood was out of the country, Nazar was carrying out the operation.”

When Nazar was under police surveillance in 2014 and 2015, officers watched him exchange bags and boxes with Stagg and Screeton that were later found to contain Meow Meow with an estimated street value of almost £600,000.

Thames Valley Police spokeswoman Hannah Jones had previously said the force was working with the Crown Prosecution Service and the National Crime Agency to track Dawood down.