A DRUG dealer, found concealing 19 rocks of Class A drugs in his bottom, has been jailed for three years following another successful arrest by the West Operation Raptor team.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard how Linus Itoya, 23, of no fixed abode was seen acting suspiciously in the car park of the Water Gardens shopping Centre on Thursday December 15 last year.
Itoya got into a vehicle which was subsequently stopped and searched by officers from the West Operation Raptor team.
Itoya was taken to custody at Harlow police station where a strip search revealed he had concealed 19 rocks of crack cocaine and heroin in his bottom. He was also found with £300 in cash which was believed to be the proceeds of drug sales.
Itoya admitted two counts of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply and was jailed for three years.
Following the sentencing Pc Tom Bennett of the West Operation Raptor said: “We welcome the sentencing of Itoya which has removed another drug dealer from the streets of our county.
“Itoya now has three years to contemplate his actions and in the meantime I hope his sentence serves as a warning to others involved in illegal drug supply in Essex that the Operation Raptor teams are watching – we will find you, we will arrest you and we will put you before the courts.”
If you have information about drug dealing in your community contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Operation Raptor teams were set up by Essex Police in the North, South and West of the county to target those involved in drug dealing and gang-related crime.