A DRUG dealer who was caught by police as he was about to flush class A drugs down the toilet has been jailed.

Yusuf Ali, 25, was caught by a drugs gang squad when they executed a search warrant at a property in Long Riding, Basildon, on November 4 last year.

Officers from Operation Raptor were acting on intelligence from neighbours that the property was believed to be involved in drug dealing.

Basildon Crown Court heard that when officers forced their way into the house, Ali was spotted running across the room.

PC Andrew Heard gave chase and tackled Ali in the bathroom where he was moments from flushing a parcel of drugs down the toilet.

Ali, of Chicksand Street, East London, was subsequently searched and was found to have £800 in cash on him as well as 18 wraps of crack cocaine and 13 wraps of heroin.

Yusuf was charged and admitted two counts of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply and one count of acquiring or possessing criminal property.

He was jailed for three years and four months.

Following the sentencing hearing at the crown court on Thursday, investigating officer PC Adam Blackwell of the South Operation Raptor team said: "I welcome this sentence and Ali now has three years to contemplate the consequences of his actions.

"I hope his sentencing serves as a warning to others who are peddling or considering peddling drugs on the streets of Essex that their actions will not be tolerated.

"I also hope the community are reassured that Essex Police will act on intelligence received about drug dealing or any crime in the county and we will proactively target those breaking the law.”

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