Three jailed for 'conspiracy to peddle dangerous drugs'

Maxime Coulibaly, Babucarr Camara and Mustapha John were sentenced to a total of 12 years and eight months imprisonment when they appeared at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday (October 12).

Coulibaly, 21, of no fixed address, was jailed for 20 months for conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and possession of cannabis after pleading guilty. Camara, 29, of North Ham Road, Littlehampton, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment after he was found guilty at Lewes Crown Court on September 13 of conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine and possession of cannabis in the city earlier this year.

Mustapha John, 22, of New England Road, Brighton, was jailed for four years for conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine, money laundering and possession of an offensive weapon – a hammer.

Sentencing them, Judge Charles Kemp said: “This was an efficient and well organised conspiracy to peddle dangerous drugs. You had no control of where they end up and they often make their way to young and vulnerable people. Lives are ruined and sometimes terminated. You are all adults and as long as you were willing to take part this will continue to be a problem”.

At the same hearing, Winston Kuye, 53,of Grand Parade, Brighton, was given a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years and 180 hours of unpaid work in the community for conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and possession of cannabis, police said.

Bronwen McKenzie, 44, of Wiston Road, Brighton, was also given a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to complete a 12-month drug rehabilitation course. She had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

Detective Inspector Julie Wakeford said: “These sentences are the latest for those arrested as a result of our major drugs operation targeting the supply of heroin and crack cocaine into the city.

"Our work which is supported by the Community Safety Partnership is an example of the excellent joint working that continues in the city targeting those who supply heroin while at the same time encouraging those who need to support with addiction into treatment."