A drug dealer, found with Class A drugs , has been jailed for more than two and a half years thanks to the good work of Essex Police's South Operation Raptor team.

Basildon Crown Court heard how on December 9 2016, officers from the South Op Raptor team were patrolling in Sutton Road, Southend.

After noticing the smell of cannabis coming from a car, the officers stopped the vehicle and carried out a search.

Inside they found cannabis, which 22-year-old Ahmed Mohamed said belonged to him, as well as crack cocaine.

Mohamed of Browning Street, South East London, was also found to have £635 in cash on him and two mobile phones which were later found to contain evidence of Class A drug dealing.

Mahamed Ali, 23, of Heaton Road, South East London, who was also in the car, was also found to have £525 cash on him and his DNA was found on a wrap of Class A drugs found in the car.

Mohamed was charged with two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and possession of the Class B drug Cannabis whilst Ali was charged with possessing criminal property.

The pair admitted the charges at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday March 7. Mohamed was jailed for 32-months whilst Ali was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “Time and again we see drug dealers from London who think they can come to our county to sell illegal substances on our streets.

“If they think they can get away with it they are sorely mistaken and they should be in no doubt that Operation Raptor will be waiting for them.

“We will continue to hunt down those individuals who come to our county intent on committing drug-related crime.”

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.