A DRUG dealer who tried to hide a package of crack cocaine and heroin under a parked car has been jailed for five years.

Jordan Kasongo, 20, was spotted acting suspiciously by drugs squad officers patrolling in Clayburn Circle, off Long Riding in Basildon, on October 26 last year.

The team attempted to stop him at about 6pm but he ran off from them and was seen trying to conceal the package, containing 29 wraps of heroin and 27 wraps of cocaine, under a car.

Kasongo, of Dickens Road, Wolverhampton, was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and released on bail pending further enquiries.

When he failed to answer bail he was arrested at his home address in Wolverhampton and charged with possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine and failing to answer bail.

Kasongo had also been charged with drugs offences after being arrested in Stratford upon Avon on September 19 last year.

Officers found him to be in possession of 22 wraps of crack cocaine.

He appeared at Warwick Crown Court last Tuesday, August 23, where he was sentenced for both the Basildon and Stratford cases.

He was jailed for five years and an order was made for the drugs to be destroyed.

Sgt Ben Woollard, from the Operation Raptor drugs squad which operates in Basildon, said: in the South Local Policing Area: “I am pleased that another drug dealer has been taken off the streets of Essex.

"Kasongo came to Essex with a plan to sell heroin and crack cocaine but thanks to eagle-eyed officers who spotted his suspicious behaviour, he is now serving a lengthy sentence behind bars.

“Operation Raptor teams have been set up to detect and disrupt drug dealing gangs who come to Essex to deal drugs and cause violence. The teams are committed to making a difference.

"Much of our work is intelligence based so we would ask anyone with information about drug dealing where they live to tell us by calling 101. Anyone who would rather not speak to police can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”