Drug gang sentenced

A group of four people who worked together to supply cocaine in Stoke-on-Trent have been sentenced.

Our major and organised crime team have been working proactively to investigate the dealings of the group since 2022, when it came to our attention that a drug line was operating.

In April of that year, we arrested two members of the group at a home in Stoke-on-Trent. They were Junaid Iqbal, 25, of Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent, and Ruby Rowsen, 22, of Werrington. More than £1,400 in cash was found in the kitchen, as well as a sweet tub containing cocaine, scales and bags in the living room. The drugs found were believed to have a street value between £2,080 and £3,120. Mobile phones were also found and seized.

Later that month, we arrested another member at another home in Stoke-on-Trent. He was Aaron Russell, 26, of Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent. Cash, a Nokia phone and scales were seized.

The fourth member was arrested in May that year. Timothy Smith, 33, of Norton, Stoke-on-Trent, was detained in his home and an iPhone was seized from underneath a pillow.

All four were sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Thursday (8 January).

Iqbal admitted conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of class A – cocaine and was jailed for three-years-and-four-months.

Smith admitted the same offence and was sentenced to two-years-and-three-months behind bars.

Rowson and Russell both admitted the same offence. They were sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years.

We’re working proactively every single day in Staffordshire to tackle the organised groups responsible for drug dealing in local communities. These groups often exploit vulnerable local people into dealing the drugs on their behalf, allowing career criminals to profit from the addiction and vulnerability of people living locally.

To report drug dealing, call 101 or use Live Chat on our website.

For more info on criminal exploitation and how to spot the signs it might be happening to someone you know, visit our website here: Child criminal exploitation | Child abuse | Staffordshire Police