‘I take my phone please, my phone, my mobile phone’ was the optimistic but unfilled request of county lines drug dealer Hugo Chessapa after police swooped on his Peterborough home and arrested him. On Monday Chessapa, 23, was jailed for three and a half years.
Police said he had played “a significant role in the operation of two county lines”.
Ironically, it was his mobile phone data that showed Chessapa frequently in the same location as an identified “deal phone” for the drugs line, as well as having daily communication with other suspected drug dealers.
He was arrested at his home in Vergette Street, Eastfield, Peterborough, on 24 May as part of Operation Tsunami – a crackdown on exploitation and illegal drugs in Peterborough.
A search of his home found about £10,000 worth of cannabis, crack cocaine and heroin.
Chessapa appeared at Huntingdon Law Court on Monday (9 October) where he was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison after previously admitting being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.
Three charges of supplying crack cocaine and possession with intent to supply cannabis, heroin and crack cocaine will lie on file.
Detective Constable Jacob Reeves, who investigated, said: “Operation Tsunami has been our response to tackling some of the most harmful people in our communities who are exploiting vulnerable people, involved in serious violence and operating class A drugs lines.
“While people may report things to us and not see activity straight away, please be reassured that every bit of information we receive plays a part in making operations such as these more effective and ultimately puts dangerous people in prison.”
Chessapa is the eighth person to be sentenced as part of Operation Tsunami.
The enforcement phase, which ran throughout May, has so far seen 48 people arrested with 21 of those charged with 84 drug offences, and eight people sentenced to a total of more than 28 years in prison.
You can read more about the operation on the police website here: dedicated Operation Tsunami webpage.
