A drug dealer has been sentenced to three years and four months in prison, after he was stopped during proactive patrols by Bedfordshire Police officers in Luton.
Kareem Barker, 27, of Shenley Church End, Milton Keynes, was sentenced on Wednesday, December 16, at Luton Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
On Wednesday, October 28, officers were carrying out proactive patrols in Luton, when they spotted Barker get out of a taxi and run off along Dunstable Road, Luton.
Officers followed him, noticing he had thrown away items as he ran off, which were discovered to be a broken mobile phone and a bag containing Class A drugs.
He was later found hiding behind a bin, and he was arrested.
The force’s dedicated guns and gangs team, Boson, carries out regular high visibility patrols, targeting locations known for drug dealing.
The team recently arrested and charged someone after discovering £45,000 worth of Class A and Class B drugs whilst on patrol.
Detective Constable Colin Knight, who investigated, said: “We will continue to pursue those offenders looking to make a profit by peddling drugs in our neighbourhoods.
“Drugs have a significant detrimental impact on our communities, driving much of the serious violence, exploitation and antisocial behaviour which blights our residents. “Hopefully this sentence will serve as a warning to all drug dealers that we will continue to target and disrupt their illegal activities and bring them to justice.”
Barker received 46 months for possession with intent to supply cocaine, and 46 months for possession with intent to supply heroin, to run concurrently.
If you have information about drug dealing, or any other criminality in your area you can report online by visiting https://www.bedfordshire.police.uk/report or by calling 101. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
For more information or support about getting out of a gang, please visit bedsveru.org
Sign up for your daily digest of local Bedfordshire news here:
https://www.bedsbulletin.com/bulletin/sign-up/
