Giant £1.5million drug haul in dealer's loft leads to six-year jail term

A drug dealer has been jailed for six years after we found a giant £1.5million haul of cocaine and ketamine in his loft.

Shane Shorthouse, 29, of Stonydelph, Tamworth, was arrested in December last year when he stopped driving a car on Ventura Park Road. He had a snap bag of cocaine on him at the time.

We searched his house and found safe in the loft. It was taken to a police station and opened, leading to the discovery of giant bricks of cocaine – valued at about £402,000. Massive bags of ketamine were also found in the loft, estimated to be worth between £642,000 and £1,125,000.

It was the biggest seizure of ketamine we've ever had in Staffordshire. 

We found evidence that Shorthouse was running the ‘Shane’ drugs line and supplying cocaine and ketamine in local communities.

After being charged with the offences, Shorthouse was taken to court and pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class B – ketamine, possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A – cocaine and being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

He was jailed for six years at Stafford Crown Court today (Tuesday 12 August).

Drug lines like this are being targeted proactively every single day in Staffordshire as we continue to act robustly against those involved in drug dealing, criminal exploitation and county lines activity.

In the last year, we have arrested more than 350 suspects, seized an estimated £400k-worth of drugs and have recovered 40 weapons.