Class A dealer jailed as part of drugs operation

A class A drug dealer has been jailed as part of an operation to tackle organised crime and drug supply in Peterborough.

Ditta Azam, 30, was arrested as part of Operation Tsunami which ran throughout the spring of last year and has so far seen 14 people jailed in connection with drug supply across the city.

 

 

Following months of intelligence gathering, Azam was identified as being involved in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin and seen to carry out the drug deals using a silver Audi A3.

The car was spotted by police in Lawn Close, Yaxley, on 8 February last year, with Azam driving it but it being insured to someone else, resulting in the car being seized.

A couple of months later, on 5 April, Azam was observed on CCTV carrying out drug deals in Peterborough city centre before getting in a taxi which was then pulled over by Neighbourhood Support Team officers in St Pauls Road, New England.

A search of Azam and the car found a small amount of class A drug wraps, two mobile phones and about £60 in cash, resulting in his arrest.

Examination of the mobile phones uncovered messages relating to the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

Azam, of St Pauls Road, New England, Peterborough, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday (9 February) where he was sentenced to two years and 11 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, and being concerned in the offer to supply methylamphetamine.

Detective Constable Lucy Carter, who investigated, said: “We have been working incredibly hard to tackle serious and organised crime within Cambridgeshire, with Operation Tsunami being our response to the issue in Peterborough.

“We have seen some lengthy prison sentences as a result of this work, which is continuing and investigations ongoing into many other people still.

“While we use various policing tactics, information we receive from the public cannot be underestimated.”

Anyone with concerns or information about drugs can report to police online via the dedicated drugs information webpage.

This latest conviction brings the total to 14 people to be sentenced to a total of almost 40 years in prison as part of Operation Tsunami.

The enforcement phase, which ran throughout May last year, has so far seen 48 people arrested with 21 of those charged with 84 drugs offences, and many more still under investigation.

You can read more about the operation on our dedicated Operation Tsunami webpage.