Croydon man jailed after £450k drugs heist

Albert Mouhtiseb Pic: Sussex Police

A man from Croydon has been jailed for seven years after Sussex Police seized a package of high-purity cocaine worth an estimated £450,000.

Albert Mouhtiseb, 28, from Pampisford Road in South Croydon, was one of four men jailed for conspiracy to supply cocaine on January 13. In total, they will serve over 20 years in prison.

During the trial at Hove Crown Court Mouhtiseb had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Sussex Police carried out a drugs operation near Crawley on April 1 last year. They found the cocaine in the car of Barry Harlow, 65, who has not yet been sentenced. Police also found £24,000 in cash in another car being used by Mouhtiseb.

The other men jailed for drugs offences were Darren Henwood, 37; Andrew Billings; 43 and Charles Smith, 41. Henwood and Billings were both sentenced to six and half years, whilst Smith was given a four-year term. All three are from West Sussex.

Detective Chief Inspector Ali Eaton, from Sussex Police, said: “Henwood was the ringleader of this group, closely supported by Billings, with Harlow acting as a courier. Taylor had passed the drugs on to Mouhtiseb, who was also a key member, for onward sale to Henwood and no doubt for later distribution when cut on to the streets of Sussex.

“It was particularly satisfying for us to be able to dismantle an entire drugs distribution operation from initial couriers to the principal and his associates. Criminals like this need to know that we will relentlessly target them and bring them to justice, in the interests of all law-abiding people and local communities.”

 

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