Nightclub lies exposed after road cameras showed drug dealer driving around Kent

Dozens of cocaine deals tumbled from the trouser leg of a drug dealer after a suspicious vehicle was stopped by police in Tunbridge Wells. 

Abdallah Chakir had initially tried to convince officers he was simply returning from a weekend of clubbing in London before searches revealed he had in fact been running a supply chain across Kent.

Chakir was a passenger in a vehicle, which was brought to a stop in Frant Road late on Sunday 14 April 2024.

Camera evidence

The Peugeot 5008 was being driven by a woman and when officers engaged with Chakir he claimed they had both spent the previous days socialising in the capital.

Checks through automatic number plate recognition systems quickly showed he was lying, with the car registering on several cameras in Kent during the days he insisted they had been away.

When Chakir was detained he was seen dropping items in the road, including a plastic container which he tried to kick under the car.

Another tub was concealed in his clothing and when he was searched this led to around 100 wraps falling from a trouser leg.

Further drugs were seized when Chakir was strip searched in custody and in total 174 street deals were recovered.

Jailed

Chakir, 36, of no fixed address was charged with possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

He pleaded guilty and on Thursday 29 August was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court to two years and eight months’ imprisonment.

Tunbridge Wells Chief Inspector Stuart Paul said:

'This sentence again illustrates just how effective our officers are in identifying offenders, who wrongly believe they can operate within our communities without consequence. ‘I can assure residents we will continue to make the streets a hostile environment for anyone involved in the supply of drugs. 'Please also remember to let us know straight away if you see anything suspicious. Call 999 if it is a crime in progress, otherwise contact 101.’