A pair of unlucky cocaine dealers have been sentenced after selling drugs to police officers in an undercover sting.
Victor Olaleye, 26, sold cocaine to officers on Low Friar Street, Newcastle, before putting them in contact with his associate, Adoniyas Michaels, also 26, from whom the plain-clothed team bought more of the Class A drug.
Michaels then made plans to sell further drugs to the undercover officers - all the while detectives at Northumbria Police were compiling evidence for a case against the undynamic duo and three others of the same crime organisation.
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The pair admitted the charges brought against them and appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on December 9 for sentencing. Michaels, of Studdon Walk in Newcastle, received three years and nine months imprisonment for supplying cocaine and MDMA, while Olaleye, of Shipcote Terrace in Gateshead, got a sentence of one year and 11 months for supplying cocaine, suspended for a year and a half.
“Illegal drug dealing has no place here and we will do all we can to clamp down on the supply chain, pursue the sellers, and dismantle the illicit organisations they work for,” said detective chief inspector Marc Michael, from Northumbria Police.
“The profits made from selling illegal drugs are often reinvested into violent crime and offences which exploit vulnerable people such as human trafficking and modern day slavery – and it’s important these criminals know they are not welcome in our cities.”
The further three associates had already received their sentence after a trial in June 2021 which saw Celick Jerry, 26, of Glanton Close in Byker, given a two-year sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting being concerned in the supply of cocaine. Wisdom Ekeke, 26, of Hazledene Avenue in Kenton, was jailed for four years after admitting supplying cocaine and possession with intent to supply cocaine and MDMA, while Jancy Mbomba, 23, of Kirk Street in Newcastle, was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting supplying cocaine and possession with intent to supply cocaine.
The sentencing of all five criminals marks the end of Northumbria Police’s investigation into serious and organised crime, under the wider Operation Sentinel.
“This was a complex operation which took months of planning and information gathering before we even considered sending our officers out into the community – but the fact these criminals have all now been convicted and sentenced is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all the officers and staff who were involved,” said Det Ch Insp Michael.
“As a force, we will continue our work to tackle serious and organised crime and would ask the public works with us to share what they know and report any suspicious activity and behaviour.”
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