Four drug dealers locked up after police broke up Staffordshire cocaine conspiracy

Four drug dealers have been locked up after police seized cocaine worth £90,000 and broke up a Staffordshire drugs conspiracy.

Blendi Axhami, 45, George Ioan, 24, Bekim Axhami, 27, and Tibor Suhaj, 20, were all arrested after officers raided threee homes in Burton-on-Trent in June last year following a lengthy investigation into a drug network supplying cocaine across east Staffordshire.

A number of vehicles were also searched, Staffordshire Police said.

In total 935 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of £90,320 was recovered, as well as around £16,500 in cash and a mobile phone used for drug dealing.

The four men appeared at Stafford Crown Court on October 23 and were sentenced to a combined total of more than 23 years behind bars.

Blendi Axhami and Bekim Axhami were sentenced to six years and five months, and five years and six months in prison respectively, after they both admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possessing criminal property.

Ioan was jailed for five years and two months after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and Suhaj was detained in a young offenders institution for six years after being found guilty of the same charge.

Superintendent Victoria Downing of Staffordshire Police’s major and organised crime unit said: “These sentences mark the conclusion of a lengthy and complex investigation into the supply of illegal drugs in Staffordshire and I am pleased they have been handed custodial sentences for their offending.

“Thanks to our investigation team, including digital enquiries and specialist forensic work, we were able to build a clear picture and compelling evidence of the roles played by those involved.

“We will continue to do all we can to disrupt, pursue and prosecute those participating in drug dealing in our county and bring them to justice.”