
Ipswich's only independent news website
We publish the stories that matter and champion everything that's good about our town – without the ads, popups or tracking
A drug dealer who sent an average of 175 messages per day coordinating cocaine supply across Suffolk has been jailed for four years following a police operation.
The big picture: Indrit Ismailaj, 23, was found guilty of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis after a six-day trial at Ipswich Crown Court.
Why it matters: The conviction represents another success for Suffolk's Sentinel teams, which focus on disrupting organised crime across the county's road network.

How it happened:
Police stopped Ismailaj in a grey Mercedes on the A14 near Felixstowe in April
Officers seized his mobile phone, finding messages about drug supply
A subsequent raid on a flat in College Street, Ipswich, uncovered £6,360 in cash and cannabis
Analysis showed he was coordinating cocaine supply across Ipswich, Stowmarket and Bury St Edmunds
The jury took less than two hours to reach a guilty verdict following nine hours of expert witness evidence
By the numbers:
4 years imprisonment for cocaine supply
9 months concurrent sentence for cannabis supply
30-month driving ban
175 drug-related messages sent per day on average
The bottom line: Police have secured another conviction in their ongoing efforts to disrupt drug networks in Suffolk. Ismailaj will serve four years in prison, with the court also ordering the forfeiture of £6,360 found during the investigation.

We can't do this without you!
If you value strong, free, independent local media that fights tirelessly for our town, please consider contributing just £24 per year