Northampton drug dealer jailed after tip-off led Police to £50,000 cocaine haul

A tip-off led police to bust a drugs deal and uncover a stash of cocaine worth £50,000 in a Northampton house.

Ziso Berouka, 45, was collared last November when officers from Northampton's Neighbourhood team got word that a grey BMW had just been involved in a deal near Barrack Road.

This newspaper reported at the time how they quickly tracked down the vehicle, eventually stopping it in Horsemarket where searches revealed a sock containing bags of crack cocaine.

But Northampton Crown Court heard last week how that find led officers PC Ethan McCullen and PC Sean Whelan to search Berouka’s house in Lower Hester Street in the Semilong area of the town.

There they uncovered half-a-kilo of cocaine with a purity of 83 per cent, £10,000 in cash and a quantity of mobile phones.

Berouka was charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs as a result and jailed for five years.

PC Whelan said: “Being out and about in the community on a regular basis allows us to connect with people more and therefore be in a better position to act on intelligence when it’s provided to us.

“This was a very quick and efficient stop which resulted in the finding of drugs with a street value of £50,000.

"We’re really pleased with the result and the fact Ziso Berouka is now behind bars.

“The message to criminals in this town is clear: We will not stop in our pursuit to bring you to justice, even if it means working a 24 hour shift to get a result.”

Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Andy Blaize, said: “This was some excellent work from two brilliant officers and as a result of their quality neighbourhood policing, another drug dealer has been taken off the streets of Northampton.”

If you have information about suspected drug dealers operating in your area, please call Northamptonshire Police on 101, or use an online form on the police website HERE or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.