Three members of a London based gang have been jailed for class A drug supply offences, after operating in Swindon during 2013.
Jonathan Kalala, aged 21, of Millward Walk, Ebenezer Baidoo, aged 23 of Eltham Palace Road, and Younathan Frezi, aged 23, of Rectory Field Crescent, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on 3 October 2016 where they were found guilty of conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine in Swindon following a week-long trial.
The investigation was led by the Dedicated Crime Team in Swindon.
Kalala was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment, while Baidoo and Frezgi each received six years.
Following a mixture of overt and covert policing tactics in which street dealers were identified and then work was carried out in order to identify those further up the chain, officers were able to identify the three members of the gang who were manning the phone line organising drug deals, arranging for drugs to be brought to Swindon and moving money around.
Undercover officers also bought drugs from the group in order to gather evidence and build a picture of how the group was organised.
Detective Constable George Booth, of the Dedicated Crime Team, said: “During the investigation, work was conducted locally on the streets of Swindon whereby arrests were made and a number of addresses searched, predominantly where the group had taken over the addresses of drug addicts to use as a base for their operations. During these arrests, quantities of heroin and crack cocaine were seized, in addition to money and mobile phones.
“Warrants were conducted in a number of addresses in Woolwich, where addresses were raided, with thousands of pounds of heroin and crack cocaine seized. These drugs were ultimately destined for the streets of Swindon. I am pleased that we have been able to intercept and stop this from happening.”
Prior to the trial, the following, who are all from the Woolwich area, pleaded guilty to the offence of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and were sentenced in 2015 as follows:
Bich Nguyen, aged 23 – 3 years imprisonment
Davroy Williams, aged 23 – 3 years and 3 months imprisonment
Abdi Mohammed, aged 23 – 4 and a half years imprisonment
Connor Cain, aged 23 – 2 years imprisonment suspended for 2 years.
DC Booth added: “We are pleased with the court result, and feel the sentences passed are reflective of the roles held by the three who were instrumental in the groups ability to operate in the town.
“The supply of class A drugs has such a negative impact on communities and we will not only seek the people out involved here in Swindon, but will also seek them further afield, and look to not only arrest and prosecute them, but disrupt them at every opportunity and end their means of making money through the misery of addiction.
“If you suspect drug dealing in your local area please contact police on 101.”
