Purfleet drug dealer William Mulenga is jailed

William Mulenga caught the eye of officers on July 2 last year when he was spotted driving a Mercedes at speed through a housing estate.

When the care pulled over in Wood Avenue, Mulenga ran off and threw items from his pockets.

He was eventually stopped by police in Arterial Road.

Officers searched him and found wraps of drugs. They then searched for the items he had thrown, and recovered a mobile phone with drugs marketing messages, and two more wraps.

The wraps were later found to contain a mixture of cocaine and ketamine, and one wrap had cannabis in it.

Mulenga was released under investigation while detectives carried out further enquiries.

William Mulenga

But he was arrested again on December 13 after officers from the Thurrock Town Centre Team spotted him in Caspian Way, Purfleet, standing outside a Toyota Prius with a cannabis joint on the ground next to him.

Mulenga gave a false name and when officers searched the car, they found cocaine with a street value of around £200 and a mobile phone. He had £196.70 in cash on him, which was also seized.

The 28-year-old, of Schoolfield Way, Grays, appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Monday 18 January.

He admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possession of cannabis.

He was jailed the same day for two-and-a-half years. The mobile phones and drugs seized will be destroyed, and £196.70 seized will also be forfeited.

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PC Joe Gillman said: “Our investigation showed Mulenga was running the Rico drug line between the end of June and mid-December last year.

“His efforts to try and avoid arrest failed twice and he has now lost his freedom.

“We continue to track down those trying to sell drugs in our communities and make sure they can’t earn money by taking advantage of other people’s misery.

“Anyone thinking it’s an easy way to make money should think again.

“The moment you get involved in drug dealing, you not only risk being caught and losing your freedom but you are at risk of reprisals from rivals, and the serious levels of violence that gangs use. “It’s not worth your life or that of your loved ones.

“Working together with communities is vital in tackling violent crime and I urge anyone with information to contact us or Crimestoppers.”