It’s everything you need to be a drug dealer – all stuffed in a shoebox.

Pictures released to the Express & Star today show just some of the haul of weapons, drugs and cash found by police when they smashed Lee Highfield’s drug dealing operation.

Laid out in a shoebox found at the home of his foot soldier, Curtis Simpson, were electronic scales, £4,000 in cash, heroin and crack cocaine, spare bags for deals and cigarette papers.

See also – Armed drug dealers are sent to jail

At Highfield’s house, police found this 9mm pistol. The bag it was found in had Simpson’s fingerprints on it and he had a photograph of the weapon on his mobile phone.

Although the court heard there was no evidence either of the men had used it, the Baikal is now said to be the weapon of choice for many British criminals.

In European gun shops, it is said to be available for around £140.

But in Britain, where it is said to be reliable and readily available, reports suggest it changes hands for around £2,500.

Judge Rosemary Bush told the pair yesterday: “I’m satisfied that the two of you were engaged in dealing class A drugs on a significant scale and that this was commercial dealing for financial gain.

“Neither of you had any visible means of support, except your drug dealing. This was a business enterprise.”

The operation was carried out by detectives from the Wednesfield-based Engage team, which takes on drug and gun gangs around the city.

On July 4, 2007, officers watched as Simpson, of Wordsworth Road, openly dealt drugs in the streets around Highfield’s home in Emerson Grove, Bushbury.

Officers raided the homes of the pair in the late afternoon that same day and found Highfield and Simpson at the former’s house.

In all, police discovered £2,000 of heroin, £700 of cocaine and £1,000 of crack cocaine. A major investigation found that Highfield had spent £26,180 on two Minis, despite having no job and not receiving benefits.

At the time of the raids, police also visited the home of Highfield’s grandmother Margaret in Sherbourne Road, Bushbury, and found £28,335 in cash.

Prosecutors claimed it was linked to the drug dealing operation but the 60-year-old was cleared of possessing criminal cash following a trial last year.

It is another high-profile success for detectives from Operation Engage, who last year brought down major Wolverhampton drug dealer Christopher Reid, who had homes across the area including in Castlecroft Road.

The 34-year-old, known as Yardie, had acquired assets worth up to £1 million and was jailed for 13 years in December.

See also – Armed drug dealers are sent to jail