Man jailed after class A drugs worth £750,000 seized

A man has been jailed for seven years after £750,000 worth of class A drugs were seized in drug warrants in Stoke-on-Trent last year.

Joseph Johnson, 34, from the Burslem area, was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Thursday (27 April) to seven years behind bars after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs at an earlier hearing.

The court heard how officers from the Major & Organised Crime Department successfully executed warrants at five residential addresses in Burslem and Tunstall, and two business premises in Kidsgrove and Milton in October last year.  

Officers seized high-purity cocaine, worth £750,000.

Seven-and-a-half kilograms of class A drugs (cocaine) were recovered from Johnson’s home address.

Further high-purity cocaine were seized from another address along with drugs paraphernalia.

Detective Constable Boyles, of Staffordshire Police, said: “The search warrants we carried out are part of an extensive, on-going operation, set up to tackle drug supply in Staffordshire. 

“Information and intelligence from our communities is key and, if you report your concerns, then we will take action.

“We will continue to take proactive action against those involved in supplying drugs in Stoke-on-Trent.

"I would encourage anyone with any information or concern to contact the police, whether in person, by telephone on 101 or online at: Report | Staffordshire Police

“You can also anonymously contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."