A DRUG dealer found to be carrying 174 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin is beginning a prison sentence.

Daniel Freeman, of Central Avenue, Southend, was jailed at Basildon Crown Court after admitting two counts of being concerned in supplying class A drugs.

The 25-year-old was arrested after officers from Operation Raptor, a team set up to detect and disrupt drug dealing gangs, stopped the Renault Megane car in which he was travelling in Stanley Road, Southend on April 21 this year.

Freeman was found to be carrying a small plastic bag containing a number of drug wraps in a pocket on his jumper.

A bag containing further wraps, a number of mobile phones and £220 in cash were also found in the vehicle.

Freeman was arrested and later charged with possession with intent to supply heroin, and possession with intent to supply crack cocaine.

He admitted charges of being concerned in supplying heroin and being concerned in supplying crack cocaine at court.

He was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on September 23 to 28 months’ imprisonment for each offence, to run at the same time.

Freeman was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £170 and orders made for the drugs to be destroyed and cash seized under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Operation Raptor teams have been created in the North, South and West Local Policing Areas to bring to justice gangs who travel to Essex to deal drugs.

Sgt Ashley Holland, from the Operation Raptor team in the south, said: “A drug dealer has now been taken off the streets of Southend and is starting a sentence behind bars.

“We are committed to taking more dealers off our streets and will use a variety of tactics to do so.

“However much of our work is intelligence led so we would encourage anyone with information about gang activity or drug dealing where they live to call us on 101.

“Anyone who would rather not speak to police can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”