A DEALER caught with more than £31,000 worth of drugs has been jailed for four and a half years.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard how officers from the West Operation Raptor team were out patrolling in Fold Croft, Harlow on August 13 this year.
They became suspicious of 27-year-old Aaron Francis-Jackson when they watched him walking back and forth between his car and the estate nearby.
They approached him and, noticing he smelt of cannabis, carried out a search of both him and the car.
Francis-Jackson was found to have 27 wraps of the Class A drug cocaine hidden in a compartment next to the steering wheel and £1,000 in cash.
When officers searched a sports bag on the back seat they found a further 73 grammes of cocaine, three bags of the Class B drug Ketamine and a bag of cannabis. They also found £2,200 in cash in the centre console of the car and an envelope containing £900.
A search of the dealer’s home at The Hoo, Harlow saw officers unearth a further nine bags and 27 wraps of cocaine, 15 bags of cannabis (including resin and bud), a block of cannabis resin and drug dealing paraphernalia including scales and plastic tubs used to hold the drugs.
In all, half a kilo of cocaine was found and the total value of the drug seized had an estimated street value of £31,600.
Francis-Jackson was arrested, charged and pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply and two counts of possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply.
Francis-Jackson was jailed for four and a half years when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday December 18.
Following the sentencing Sgt James Paget of the West Operation Raptor team said: “Time and again we make it clear that if drug dealers think they can deal drugs on the streets of Essex then they are sorely mistaken.
“Unfortunately a few don’t listen to that message from Essex Police and they learn the hard way. Francis-Jackson had no idea that while he was plying his trade, Operation Raptor were watching him.
“We swiftly arrested him, seized all of his drugs and cash and now he will be eating his Christmas dinner behind bars.
“We will continue to hunt down the people who attempt to sell drugs on our streets.”
Essex Police set up Operation Raptor teams in the North, South and West of the county to tackle drug and gang-related crime.
If you have information about drug or gang-related crime in your community contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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