A COCAINE dealer’s large-scale operation was uncovered thanks to an effective stop and search carried out by an officer on patrol in Harlow.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “Operation Raptor, our officers working solely to tackle county lines drug dealing in Essex, worked with Harlow local policing team to see 23-year-old Marshall Bartram caught and put behind bars.

A local policing team officer was carrying out an area search in Spencers Croft on 11 February this year linked to an unrelated matter.

He spotted two men engaged in a potential drug deal.

Approaching Bartram, he detained him for a search.

Bartram confessed to the officer he was carrying cocaine and was promptly arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.

A large sum of cash – suspected to be as much as £10,000 – as well as more than 160g of cocaine were recovered.

A nearby address in Harlow linked to Bartram was searched and further cash and a large brick of cocaine were seized.

Following further investigation by Op Raptor, Bartram, of no fixed address, was charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession of criminal property, charges he admitted in March.

“Appearing for sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court earlier this month, he was sentenced to three years and ten months’ imprisonment”.

Detective Inspector Richard Trower, of Op Raptor West, said:

“Our teams often work closely with our local and neighbourhood policing officers to bring drug dealers blighting our towns and cities to justice.
“This was a significant sentence for someone with no prior convictions and of a relatively young age.
“The strength of the sentence shows how seriously the courts will take drug dealing, particularly when such large quantities of cash and drugs are involved.

“Bartram clearly thought he could live beyond his means by selling harmful Class A drugs and fuelling wider crime in Harlow.
“He’s been proven wholly wrong. He’ll instead spend the next few years in prison and will have to live with a criminal conviction.
“There’s little room for drug dealers to operate in Essex.”

Further action under the Proceeds of Crime Act will be taken against Bartram to recover as much of his criminal profit as possible.