
Moment bleary-eyed drug dealers are arrested while sharing a bed after police storm their home in cocaine gang raid
Footage shows the men side by side with their eyes still shut while officers make the arrests after battering down a door at the property in Millstone Lane, Leicester, on October 5 2022.
The bewildered pair scowl and are barely able to answer when asked to give their names.
Miguel Figueiredo-Mendes and Jean Paul Ekombolo, both 28, were then escorted outside and shown into a police car.
Investigators discovered crack cocaine in the flat, determined to have a street value of £10,700, as well as £1,000 in cash.
The search warrant followed information gathered by Leicestershire Police and the Met in relation to a drugs line that had been operating between London and Leicestershire, namely the Coalville area.
A third man, Christian Mudianga, 35, was also arrested at a property in Heathcott Road, Leicester, as part of the warrants and charges were made that month.
Following court hearings over the past three years, the trio were sentenced on Thursday last week at Leicester Crown Court.
The verdict also came after a Newton hearing which is when a defendant makes a guilty plea but there is a factual dispute over the basis on which the sentencing should proceed.
Figueiredo-Mendes, of Orange Grove in Chigwell, was sentenced to six years and three months imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin between September 16, 2022 and October 5, 2022.
Ekombolo, of Mast Street in Barking, was sentenced to four years imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine between April 8, 2022 and October 5, 2022.
Mudianga, of Heathcott Road, Leicester, was jailed for four years and three months after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin between January 11, 2022 to October 5, 2022.
The sentences will all take into account the time that has already been served on remand by the defendants.
Inspector Steve Burge, Neighbourhood Policing Commander for North West Leicestershire, said: 'Drug offending ruins lives and brings harm to our communities. We will not tolerate it in force and will continue to work to remove illegal drugs from our streets and to bring those responsible to court.
'Dedicated and detailed team work across forces allowed us to gather the full information in relation to this drugs line and who was involved.
'This allowed us to successfully execute early morning warrants which ultimately led to those responsible being charged. With the evidence gathered, the defendants were then left with no option but to plead guilty to their crimes.
Drugs that were found at the property. Investigators discovered crack cocaine in the flat, determined to have a street value of £10,700, as well as £1,000 in cash
'Please do continue to report information which you have in relation to drug offending to us. We will act on information reported to us and we will investigate so that together we can help to protect our communities from these crimes.'
'Please also remember if you are affected by drug use, you can contact Turning Point for support on 0330 3036000 or by visiting Leicester | Turning Point (turning-point.co.uk)'
Detective Inspector James Seager, from the Met's Operation Orochi team, said: 'County line drug offending causes immense harm to young people and communities.
'The prosecution of these three individuals for serious criminal activity was as a result of effective collaboration between Leicestershire Police and the MPS to address the challenge of county line offending between Leicester and London.
'Law enforcement must continue to dismantle these criminal networks and safeguard young and vulnerable people.'
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