Liam O'Dowd

A Royal Mail employee who exploited his position to steal drug parcels and resell cannabis has been sentenced to more than six years in prison, following Thames Valley Police's largest ever cash seizure. Amjad Ali, 50, of Olivia Drive, Slough, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court to six years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to supplying class B drugs, theft of parcels, possessing criminal property and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place. The court heard how Ali, who worked at the Royal Mail logistics centre in Slough, identified parcels suspected of containing drugs pending X-ray examination before dishonestly removing them and relabelling them for delivery to alternative addresses, including his own. Officers from the Berkshire East Disruptions Team executed warrants at locations linked to Ali on 12 December last year, including his home address, car and a storage facility. They uncovered £1,185,420 in cash at his storage locker and a further £42,290 at his home address – the biggest cash seizure Thames Valley Police has made. Ali was charged the following day. Cannabis seized during the raid. Source - Thames Valley Police The operation ran for approximately a year between 2024 and 2025, with the recovered cash understood to be proceeds from the onward sale of cannabis. Investigating officer PC Filippo Brancato said: "Ali thought he had found a lucrative way to exploit his role at Royal Mail, but today's sentence shows that crime does not pay. "Our investigation uncovered more than £1.2 million in cash linked to his offending, the biggest cash seizure we as Thames Valley Police have made, highlighting the significant profits he generated through his criminal enterprise. "Money seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act will be reinvested into policing and community initiatives, helping us continue to disrupt criminal activity and bring offenders to justice. "We will continue to target those who facilitate the drugs trade and ensure they are held accountable for their actions."