Jailed taxi driver paid part of £12k cocaine delivery to help him stay awake at night
TAXI driver Usman Akhlaq acted as a courier by bringing more than £12,000 worth of cocaine into Stoke-on-Trent.
The 27-year-old father collected the package in Derby and was stopped by police on the A50 near Blythe Bridge.
In return for bringing the drugs to the Potteries, the defendant would have received 2 grams of cocaine which he would have taken to stay awake and work longer hours as a taxi driver.
Now Akhlaq, who also sold cannabis, has been jailed for three years.
Prosecutor Fiona Cortese told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court Akhlaq was stopped by police at 7.20pm on January 17.
Miss Cortese said: “No items were recovered from him but there was a smell of cannabis emanating from the Toyota Avensis. It was searched and under the front passenger seat a white plastic bag was found with 68.8 grams of white powder containing cocaine hydrochloride.
“It had a 90 per cent purity and was worth more than £12,000.
“Police also recovered 40 milligrams of cocaine hydrochloride and 1.18 grams of cannabis with a street value of £10.”
Officers searched Akhlaq’s girlfriend’s address in Aylesbury Road, Bentilee, and found more than 130 grams of cannabis vegetation and some cocaine.
They also found a set of digital scales and some clear bags.
Akhlaq, of Lightwood Road, Lightwood, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply and possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
But the prosecution did not accept his basis of plea and a trial of issue was held yesterday.
Judge Paul Glenn found the defendant was a courier of cocaine. He was asked to collect 69 grams of the drug and in return he would have received 2 grams.
But the judge rejected Akhlaq’s basis regarding the cannabis and found he was a street dealer.
Richard Martin, defending, said: “He has tangled family circumstances, two families and two sets of young children who rely upon him.”
Jailing Akhlaq, Judge Paul Glenn said: “A taxi provides a useful cover for someone using it as you, as a drug courier of cocaine.
“You went in with your eyes wide open. You stood to gain £140 for a single trip to Derby and back, which must have indicated what you were asked to carry was of significant value.
“It was plainly destined for onward supply.
“Your role is important because couriers enable dealers to go undetected.
“If you choose to get involved in the supply of a highly addictive drug like cocaine and get caught you must pay the consequences.”
Read more:
http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Jailed-1 ... z3FfOC2THU
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