Police who pulled over a young lad for speeding stumbled upon the remnants of a large drug dealing operation.
Chakib Chelbi had been pulled over a month earlier for his erratic driving and showed a forged insurance document.
After he was released under investigation, he was caught again with drugs, cash and a Louis Vuitton bag. And, when police searched a city centre address Chelbi was linked to they found three others; Khalid Kelifa, Zakariya Munye and Jeilani Haji-Ali, along with a large wads of cash behind a sofa and drug dealing equipment.
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Now, Chelbi, 22; Kelifa, 21, and Munye, 21, have pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs. Kelifa and Munye admitted a further offence of acquiring criminal property, Chelbi admitted forgery and Haji-Ali, 21, admitted being concerned in the supply of class B drugs.
At Manchester Crown Court, prosecutor Ellen Shaw told the court that on June 18 last year, two police officers were travelling along Chester Road roundabout when they noticed a black Corsa driven at speed by Chelbi and motioned for it to pull over.
“Upon searching the car they found some snap bags of white powder in the driver's footwell,” she said.
“Some 33 snap bags of white powder were found in the centre console as well as a Louis Vuitton bag and £250 in cash. Also empty snap bags and mobile phones.”
The court heard that there was around 0.6 grams of cocaine in each bag, valued at £60 per bag. Chelbi was arrested and police were made aware of a link to a flat on Owen Street, in Manchester city centre.
Upon entry to the flat, officers found the three other defendants, and following a search of the flat they found a large amount of cash which remains uncounted. Other drug paraphernalia was also discovered including empty snap bags and mobile phones.
Kelifa’s address was also searched, in which officer’s recovered crack cocaine, cocaine and heroin. In total 66.3 grams of cocaine was seized. Officers also found £98 cash on Kelifa. Officers also seized Haji-Ali’s phone and found messages demonstrating that he was dealing cannabis, the prosecutor said.
The court also heard that on May 22 2021, officers pulled over a white Polo being driven by Chelbi, due to the manner of his driving. He produced insurance documents, which were checked and later found to be false. He has since pleaded guilty to an offence of forgery.
Chelbi and Kelifa were said to have no previous convictions, whereas Munye has two previous convictions for five offences and Haji-Ali has a previous conviction from when he was a youth.
Mitigating for Kelifa, Adam White accepted that his client was ‘foolish’ and ‘immature’.
Of Munye, Mr White said the ‘penny had finally started to drop’, in that he will continue to receive custodial sentences if he ‘does not alter’. “This is seen as a wake up call for him,” he said.
For Chelbi, Neil Ronan said his client has significant health issues and his mental health suffered at the time. “It was a difficult thing for him to act on and he thought this was the best thing to do. It was foolish,” Mr Ronan said. He added that he had got into a drug debt at the time and had a ‘stupid desire’ to pay it off.
And of Haji-Ali, Rachel White said he was ‘simply a visitor’ at the flat at the time.
Sentencing, Judge Patrick Field KC said: “These are not victimless crimes. The dealing of controlled drugs in this way creates risks, not only for customers of those drugs, but for the communities where there is criminality on the streets. That is why the courts deal with these offences particularly seriously.”
Kelifa, of Radlett Walk, Chorlton, was jailed for 30 months, and Munye, of Epping Street, Chorlton, was jailed for 38 months, both for acquiring criminal property and possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
Chelbi, of Roberts Avenue, Rusholme, was sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for two years, 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirements, 120 hours unpaid work and his licence was endorsed.
Haji-Ali, of Northmoor Road, Longsight, was handed a two year community order, 25 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and 80 hours unpaid work.
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