Drug supplier jailed after routine stop and search in Rugeley uncovers bags of cocaine
A man involved in a significant cocaine drug supply operation has been convicted after he was stopped by police officers in Rugeley.
Klajdi Mehalla, 35, of Birkenhead in Merseyside, was sat in a car when proactive officers from Staffordshire Police stopped him in April in Rugeley.
He told officers that the cocaine inside the car was for his own use, with four snap bags of cocaine found inside, along with messages on his phone advertising the sale of cocaine and cannabis in the area.
The car he was driving was also insured in someone else’s name.
An investigation by Staffordshire Police found that Mehalla was responsible for selling drugs to customers in England on the behalf of an Albanian criminal group.
He was charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine, being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis and using a motor vehicle without third party insurance, offences he admitted to at Stafford Crown Court in May.
On Friday, Mehalla was jailed for three-and-a-half-years.
A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "Through our investigation, we found out that Mehalla was playing a key role in organised crime and was responsible for selling drugs to customers in England on the behalf of an Albanian criminal group.
"We gathered the evidence needed to charge Mehalla with possession with intent to supply cocaine, being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis and using a motor vehicle without third party insurance.
"Mehalla admitted the offences in court on 23 May. Today (Friday 26 September), he was jailed for three-and-a-half-years at Stafford Crown Court.
"Since we launched our dedicated operation to tackle organised crime in May 2023, more than 1,000 people have been arrested on suspicion of drug and weapon offences in Staffordshire.
"We’re working hard every day to act robustly against those involved in major and organised crime."
