Mohammed Hamza, of Vayner Drive, would drop off drugs, collect money at properties or carry out exchanges from a vehicle, including using others to work on his behalf.

On Wednesday 24 May 2023 officers carrying out patrols, stopped the 22-year-old on Surrey Street and seized a quantity of money along with a mobile phone. He was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and taken into custody.

After being questioned, he was released while officers examined the phone, and a wider investigation began to gather more evidence into the level of criminality.

While the investigation was progressing, Hamza was parked on Longford Street in Middlesbrough in the afternoon of Monday 11 December 2023. He was seen by a member of the public exchanging drug deals from the passenger side of the vehicle – and it was reported to police.

Officers stopped the grey BMW and he was detained.

A large amount of money was found stuffed in his chest pocket and a subsequent strip search resulted in wraps of crack cocaine being seized.

After being taken into custody, officers executed a search of Hamza’s property.

In the attic a sports bag was located with excess of £30,000 of cash inside and a further £500 found in the kitchen along with two burner phones that were used to send text messages offering the sale of drugs.

The evidence from the ongoing investigation and the subsequent arrest while Hamza was on police bail resulted in his immediate charge.

On Wednesday 29 June Hamza appeared at Teesside Magistrates Court to be sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A and money laundering.

He was told he will serve four years and three months in jail.