A "key player" in a county lines gang which flooded a Merseyside town with drugs has been jailed.
Abdulatif Abdulkadir, 32, from Manchester, was arrested as he drove into Ellesmere Port on Saturday, February 6 2021. Police officers found around £1,231 in cash in his possession, as well as two mobile phones, one of which was his burner phone, used to sell drugs.
After being arrested and charged with being concerned in both possessing and supplying drugs, he was given bail. Yet, according to police, Abdulkadir continued to sell drugs for the Manchester-based county lines drug gang he worked for while on bail.
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In the meantime, Ellesmere Port police officers used Abdulkadir's burner phone to help them gather evidence proving drugs were being sold in the town. Abdulkadir was arrested again on Friday, May 6 of this year after his Manchester home address was raided.
During the raid, officers found three other burner phones, two sim cards, a quantity of cash and three bags of cannabis. Evidence from the burner phones showed the 35-year-old was active in the sale and distribution of class A drugs.
He was placed in custody and charged with supplying crack cocaine and heroin, as well as being in the possession of cannabis and criminal property.
Abdulkadir appeared in Chester Crown Court on Monday, October 24. He pleaded guilty to all charges and was jailed for five years and three months.
DC Phillip Hunt, of Cheshire Police said: "This is a great result which demonstrates our efforts to ensure those who deal illegal drugs in our communities are caught and brought to justice. Through our extensive enquiries, it became clear that Abdulkadir was a key player in the supply of illegal drugs in the Ellesmere Port and Manchester areas.
"Illegal drugs have a hugely detrimental impact, and we are committed to doing all we can to remove those involved in the supply of such drugs from our communities. Thankfully, as a result of all of the evidence we gathered during our investigation, Abdulkadir is now behind bars.
"Warrants can be hugely successful but information from the public is vital for this fight, and I urge anyone with any information about suspected drug related activity in their community to get in touch. You will be listened to, and we will investigate the matter."
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