Police put brakes on suspicious drug dealer

A DRUG dealer was caught by police after they became suspicious because of his bizarre driving.

Yakub Abdalla, 23, was driving a Seat Ibiza around Moss Side when he came to the attention of officers.

They believed he was acting ‘suspiciously’ because he was taking a ‘circuitous’ route, turning left, left then left again, prosecutor Simon Barrett told Manchester Crown Court.

When they pulled him over on Alison Street, officers found a strong smell of cannabis coming from the car.

They found drugs with a potential total value of more than £1,100.

This included 16 bags of cannabis, 27 wraps of ketamine and seven bags of MDMA.

Abdalla had a mobile phone which had ‘drug dealing terminology’ on it, prosecutors said.

Officers also found ‘drug dealer calling cards’.

There was also more than £1,000 in cash found in the car.

Police found a further £4,000 at his home, but Abdalla said that was for a business loan, rather than the proceeds of drug dealing.

Abdalla gave a ‘no comment’ interview to police.

Defending, Daniel Harman said Abdalla has ‘never been anywhere near’ going to prison before, but accepted that his crimes would warrant a jail sentence.

He said Abdalla is ‘genuinely remorseful’ and has kept out of trouble since the incident in October 2018.

Sentencing, Judge Suzanne Goddard QC said: “Today you must go to jail for the crimes you have committed,” and sentenced him to two-and-a-half years.

Abdalla, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply MDMA, two counts of possession with intent to supply cannabis and ketamine, and one count of possession of cocaine.