County lines drug dealers who tried to hide stash from police jailed

Angelo Cardoso Pereira and Amado Mendes Balde were sentenced to 18 months and 20 months respectively at Peterborough Crown Court.

The pair were spotted acting suspiciously by the Southern Impact Team in St Matthew’s Gardens, Cambridge, in September 17 last year.

When they realised they were being watched, Balde handed Pereira a blue man bag and he made off on a bike.

Balde approached officers and was searched. Shortly after, Pereira returned and was also searched but nothing was found.

Officers began a search of the area and, thanks to the sound of a burner phone ringing, they were able to recover the bag from a bush and found £444 in cash and 28 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin.

At court Pereira (20) of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. Balde (21) of Westbourne Avenue, Leeds, was found guilty of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and criminal damage.

Sergeant Paul Street said: “We’re cracking down on county lines drug supply and dealers need to understand that if they come to Cambridge we are going to target them. There two men decided to come and exploit the drugs market, however, were quickly caught and are now in prison.

“These are from a long line of success stories of drug dealers being convicted and we will continue to make this a top priority.”