The faces of the drug caught red-handed on
From the dealer caught with 160 wraps of cocaine up his backside to the aspiring nurse warned he would be chased out of the city. These drug offenders have all been locked up in the past 12 months after being caught by the police in Cardiff. They have bee
The defendant: Bledar Mahmutaj, 23, from Albany Road in Roath, admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply and possessing an identity document with improper intention. Where was he caught? He was seen driving a Vauxhall Meriva in Richmond Road. Officers followed him through the Butetown Tunnels and pulled him over in Ferry Road.
What did the police find? Officers searched the car and found a black sock in the steering column which contained 27 grip-seal bags of white powder. Analysis showed it was just over 10g of cocaine at 84% purity with an estimated street value between £1,080 and £1,356. Police seized £640 in cash along with two mobile phones.
Did he have previous convictions? The court heard he had no previous convictions in the UK.
What did he say to the police? He gave officers a false name when they searched him. He initially claimed his name was Christos Papadopoulos and he was from Greece. He did not reply to the caution.
Why was he dealing? The court heard it was difficult for him to find legitimate work because he had come to the country illegally. He started doing building work and was paid cash in hand and turned to drug dealing because he wanted to support his partner and her child.
The sentence: Judge Michael Fitton QC jailed Mahmutaj for three years and six months. He must serve half of that in custody and then be released on licence. An order was made for the drugs to be destroyed.
The defendant: Peterson Baru, 26, from Kinetic Crescent in Enfield, admitted possessing heroin and cocaine with intent to supply and possessing cannabis.
Where was he caught? South Wales Police raided a flat in Baileys Court, Roath, as they had evidence to suggest it was being used for drug dealing. Baru was seen throwing away a bundle of Class A drugs as he tried to escape from the back of the property.
What did the police find? An officer saw him throw a cling film wrap, which was found to contain 30 deals of heroin and cocaine with an estimated street value of £630. He was also caught with £375 in cash and a small amount of cannabis.
Did he have previous convictions? He was given a suspended sentence in September 2014 for being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine. In 2017 he was sentenced for possessing Class A and Class B drugs. He also had a reprimand for possessing cannabis.
What did he say to the police? Baru did not answer any questions when he was interviewed by the police.
Why was he dealing? Tim Lewis, defending, said he was “desperate” to provide for his five-year-old daughter. The court heard he applied for a construction qualification but was unable to complete the course as he was being threatened by people he knew from the “gang scene”.
The sentence: Judge Tim Petts jailed him for three years and nine months and made an order for the drugs to be destroyed.
The defendants: Ibrahim Haji, 26, from Casella Road in London, and Abdiqani Mohamed, 21, from College Gardens in Edmonton, London, admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.
Where were they caught? Police searched a property on Moy Road in Roath. Prosecutor Bethan Evans said: “Officers made their way to an attic room.”
What did the police find? Haji was caught with 160 wraps of crack cocaine and 35 wraps of heroin hidden in his bum. He was found by officers to have nearly £2,000 worth of Class A drugs concealed in his body, while
Mohamed tried to swallow another package.
Did they have previous convictions? Haji had no previous convictions. Mohamed had been before the courts for seven previous offences - mostly drug-related. He was sent to a young offender institution for 26 months in 2017 for possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply.
What did they say to the police? The pair were arrested and interviewed. They both replied “no comment” to all the questions put to them.
Why were they dealing? Haji got into debt having developed a gambling addiction and was offered money to deliver drugs. Huw Bowden, for Mohamed, said his client was “led astray” by a group of people he met after moving to the UK from Somalia in 2011. The court heard he started using drugs and was told he was in debt and the only way to pay it off was by dealing.
The sentence: Haji was jailed for three years and four months and Mohamed for four years. An order was made for the drugs to be destroyed.
The defendants: Diandre Henry, 19, from Bridle Walk in Telford, and Tamba Momodu, 19, from Summercroft in Telford, each admitted possessing cocaine, MDMA and cannabis