A drugs gang member has been jailed for 10 years after officers discovered cocaine and heroin with a street value of more than £500,000 inside a ‘Safe House.’
Officers arrested Saif Iqbal after officers from the West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) entered a terraced house in Butlin Road, Holbrook, Coventry, on 8 December last year.
Inside was a woman and 29-year-old Iqbal, from Ransom Road, Foleshill.
WMP discovered an open safe in the bathroom which contained 1/4kg of heroin and digital scales covered in drugs residue.
On the bathroom floor was a partly unwrapped package containing 1 kg of cocaine.
A shopping bag next to the safe contained a further four packages each containing 1kg of cocaine.
In total there was 5kg of cocaine with purity of 78% and a potential estimated individual street deal value of £500,0000.
The safe, scales, packaging and cash all seized from the address were all indicators of organised, wholesale drug supply.
The property in Butlin Road was being used for the storage and distribution of class A drugs and would be considered as a ‘Safe House’ or ‘Trap House’ which is a location linked to the storage, preparation and distribution of controlled drugs.
Iqbal was arrested and taken into custody. He was on licence at the time after being handed a six year eight month jail term for conspiracy to supply class A drugs cocaine and MDA as well as cannabis.
Iqbal pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs when he appeared at Warwick Crown Court on 5 January and was jailed for 10 years.
Chief Inspector Leanne Lowe, Senior Investigation Manager at ROCU, said:
“We’re focused on those thought to be involved in the highest levels of organised crime across our region.
“Iqbal’s conviction and sentence sends out a clear warning to others intent on supplying Class A drugs – we simply won’t tolerate it.”