HAND OVER YOUR DRUGS PROFITS
KNIFE-WIELDING DEALER TACKLED BY BRAVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN CITY-CENTRE CHASE IS ORDERED TO PAY BACK THOUSANDS OF POUNDS
A DRUG dealer who was chased through Cardiff last year wielding a huge hunting knife has had thousands of pounds of his dirty money confiscated.
Muaz Tarafdar was jailed for six months in April 2018 for possessing a knife, then was back in court in April this year and locked up again for further offences.
His case was listed before Judge Eleri Rees at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday for an application under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The defendant was jailed for four years and one month on April 3 after he admitted possessing heroin and cocaine with intent to supply.
He also pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The court heard on that occasion Tarafdar stamped on a police officer’s head, then tried to hide in a kebab shop when he was caught with heroin and cocaine.
He also punched Detective Constable Dominic Belotti in the face, leaving him with painful injuries, including a wound on top of his head and a cut inside his lip.
Prosecutor Heath Edwards said the defendant “struggled violently” with the officer in a busy street in the city centre.
The court heard three drugs officers were on patrol in plain clothes in the Cathays area of Cardiff on the evening of February 24.
Mr Edwards said they saw Tarafdar behaving suspiciously in City Road just after 7pm, then witnessed an apparent drugs transaction take place an hour and a half later.
He added: “He did not co-operate with the police and began to struggle violently. He stamped on the head of DC Belotti as the officer was trying to restrain him.”
The court heard Tarafdar left the officer with a “nasty injury” to the top of his head and managed to break free before running away.
Prosecutors said the officers chased him through Cathays and saw him drop a black rucksack and throw items out of his pockets.
They caught up with him by T&A Kebabs and DC Belotti used his CS spray, but it had little effect and Tarafdar punched him to the left side of his mouth.
The defendant did not stop and ran into the shop, trying to hide behind a table, but the staff refused him entry.
Officers found him in a garden in Senghennydd Road and he replied to the caution: “Who am I meant to have assaulted?”
They recovered the rucksack, which was found to contain seven wraps of heroin and 17 wraps of crack cocaine worth £240. He also had £160 in cash.
Tarafdar’s then address in Porthkerry Place was searched and officers found a black tub containing 4.3g of cannabis, along with expensive clothes, trainers and a receipt for a new bike.
Prosecutors said he had previous convictions for possessing cocaine and cannabis and was jailed for six months last year for possessing a bladed article.
Brave members of the public tackled Tarafdar as he fled from police in Cardiff city centre carrying a “dangerous” hunting knife.
He was caught on camera as he fled on a bike from officers in busy Castle Street on April 15, 2018. The knife was found in its sheath in his backpack.
The defendant pleaded guilty at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court to possessing a knife in a public place and was jailed for six months.
A year later, the 21-year-old – who does not have a fixed address – admitted possessing heroin and cocaine with intent, possessing cannabis, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Hashim Salmman, defending, said his client achieved GCSEs and was working hard as a waiter at his family’s restaurant before he became addicted to crack cocaine.
Prosecutors said the defendant made £16,812.19 from his criminal conduct and it was agreed he had £13,875 available. An order was made for that amount to be confiscated.
He will have three months to pay and will have to go to prison for six months if he does not. His property is already with the prosecution and is due to be auctioned.