A 26-year-old Nigerian man has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment in the UK for dealing drugs.
The man identified as Olusegun Babalola, was arrested on Friday, May 19, 2023, after police raided his home in Whitsed Street, Eastfield, as part of an operation into drug dealing and exploitation in Peterborough.
Following months of intelligence gathering, police evidenced Babalola had been involved in supplying crack cocaine and heroin in the city as part of a “county lines” operation.
The morning police raided his home, officers found more than £7,000 worth of heroin and crack cocaine wraps hidden within a tissue box on the kitchen worktop.
Other drug paraphernalia, including small weighing scales and multiple mobile phones – one of which was later confirmed to be the “deal line” for the county line – were found in the one-bedroom flat, along with a considerable amount of designer clothing and footwear.
He appeared at Peterborough Crown Court on Friday, September 15, where he was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison after previously admitting five counts of supplying crack cocaine, being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine, and possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine.
Detective Constable Olly Campbell, who investigated, said: “Babalola had a considerable amount of designer goods in his possession, which was not consistent with the lifestyle of someone who claimed to not currently be in employment.
“Through a range of tactics, we were able to build up a significant amount of evidence to prove he not only was dealing drugs but played a leading role in the county lines set-up, meaning he had little choice but to admit the offences in court.”
Babalola is the seventh person to be sentenced as part of Operation Tsunami, a crackdown on exploitation and illegal drugs in Peterborough.
The enforcement phase, which ran throughout May, has so far seen 48 people arrested with 19 of those charged with 83 drug offences, and five people sentenced to a total of 24 years and 11 months in prison.
