Anti-gang cops in Salford rumble drug dealer in hotel room with cocaine and cash

A drug-dealer who was rumbled when we caught him in a hotel room with cocaine and cannabis has been jailed following an investigation by our anti-gang cops in Salford.

Joshua Wood (31) is one of over 300 arrests made by our Operation Naseby taskforce and is the latest to be put behind bars as we continue our affront on organised crime in the city.

He was sentenced to 42 months imprisonment earlier this month at Manchester Crown Court after admitting eight drug offences and money laundering.

The court heard how Op Naseby officers had received information Wood, of Marston Gardens, Ellesmere Port, had been dealing drugs from his car and was staying in a hotel in the Worsley area.

We went into his room and found him in bed before he admitting to having drugs hidden in the drawers.

In the room we uncovered over 250 grams of cocaine, around 150 class C pills, a small quantity of cannabis, and around £1200 in cash.

Wood’s phone was also seized and provided evidence of him making money through the sale of drugs, despite him initially claiming to us that the drugs were all for his own personal use.

We later charged Wood with possession with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis, possession with intent to supply class C drugs, possession of class A drugs including MDMA, possession of class C drugs, and money laundering.

He admitted all the offences he was accused of and now has begun to serve his sentence.

To date, Operation Naseby has helped drive down shootings in the city by over 70% since its inception in April 2020 after 300 arrests, over 300 car seizures, and around 50kilos of drugs recovered.

Criminals have received almost 70 years’ worth of custodial sentences, with many others being recalled to prison or receiving criminal behaviour orders requiring them to continue abiding by strict conditions following their release from custody.

Our commitment to maintaining the crackdown on weapons, criminals, drugs and their assets is hoped will continue to drive down violent crime on our streets even further as our work sustains without relent.

We've been able to conduct well over 130 house searches thanks to intelligence we have received from the public, and we continue to urge anyone with information or concerns to contact us online via LiveChat, if able, or by calling 101.

Details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.