A network of street dealers have been jailed for more than 15 years after they were caught selling drugs to late-night revellers in Newcastle.
The group of eight were arrested after they were observed selling cannabis, MDMA and cocaine to partygoers in Newcastle City Centre between June and December 2018.
Officers from Northumbria Police worked across hotspot areas such as Moseley Street, the Quayside and Collingwood Street where observed the men selling quantities of drugs to revellers and began compiling a detailed case against them.
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Then, in December that year, officers began making arrests with the first to be taken into custody being dealers Jean Pierre Parracho, Joshua Kanda, and Laykan Aremu.
Officers seized their devices and were able to piece together a series of telecoms evidence showing a clear pattern of offending and implicating others in the conspiracy.
Then associates Donovan Sibanda and Adoniyas Michaels were arrested with five others then brought in for interview shortly after.
Before long the men were charged and in May last year they began appearing at Newcastle Crown Court. Two of those implicated in the plot have denied their involvement and are due to stand trial in the new year.
However, the rest of the men were subsequently convicted and last week, the final four were jailed bringing the overall total to 15 years and eight months behind bars.
Those sentenced on December 9 were:
- On December 9, Donovan Sibanda, 25, of Westbourne Avenue, Newcastle was jailed for three years and four months for three counts of supplying cocaine.
- Also appearing with him was Nelson Ndlovi, 27, of Raby Way, Newcastle who was jailed for two years and nine months for three counts of supplying a Class cocaine and possession with intent to supply.
- Adoniyas Michaels, 26, of Studdon Walk, Newcastle was jailed for three years and two months for two counts of supplying cocaine and one count of supplying MDMA.
- Sandro Mendonca, 26, of no fixed abode, was given a 21 months jail term suspended for 12 months for supplying cocaine.
Those sentenced previously are:
- Michael Ojeikere, 24, of Gainsborough Grove, Newcastle was jailed for two years in July for two counts of supplying cocaine.
- Laykan Farouk Aremu, 26, of Fourstones Close in Kenton, was jailed for four years and five months in October for four counts of supplying cocaine.
- Joshua Kanda, 28, of Grosvenor Road, Jesmond was issued with a community order for two months in May last year.
- Jean Pierre Parracho, 24, of Prendwick Court in Hebburn was given a 21 months jail term suspended for 18 months in July for two counts of being concerned in supplying cocaine.
- Three other men identified during the investigation were issued with cautions and fines for possession
Superintendent Jamie Pitt of Northumbria Police, said: “This is a great result for us and for our communities, who are sick of having to put up with the knock-on effects of organised crime.
“This operation was set up to ensure that those responsible for illegal supply were caught, monitored and put before the courts. And, after a long and complex investigation, we have done just that.
“Newcastle is a thriving nightlife where people come to enjoy themselves safely and our message is clear – illegal drugs and those who sell them are not welcome here.
“I hope these convictions and jail terms show our communities we are serious about putting a dent into the criminal networks involved in illicit drug supply as part of Operation Sentinel, and we will make no apologies for continuing to seize and destroy their substances, taking illegal cash out of circulation and putting offenders before the courts.
“I would like to thank everyone who was involved in this operation – from the officers to the police staff working to build up a clear intelligence picture – it is thanks to their hard work and dedication we have achieved such a positive result.
“I’d urge our communities to keep working with us and report suspicious activity and share information about drug supply so we can continue to tackle it.”
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