The man was also staying in the country illegally.
A man who told police he was forced to sell drugs has been jailed. Abdulrahman Hassani, 24, contacted Cambridgeshire Police last month and claimed he “feared for his life” after being exploited by Albanian gangs and was being forced to sell drugs.
However, when Hassani was interviewed by officers, his story fell apart. He was unwilling to give officers access to his phone and unable to tell them who was exploiting him.
He would also often change the subject, and requested free accommodation from police. Hassani was arrested and officers discovered £750 in cash, 19 bags of cocaine and two mobile phones on him while at the police station. Messages on his phone also revealed evidence of drug dealing and no signs of exploitation.
Further investigations revealed Hassani was in the country illegally, having failed several bids for asylum under various names. Evidence also showed he had told the same story in another county.
After later pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, Hassani, of Jopling Way, Hauxton, near Cambridge, was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison at Peterborough Crown Court last Thursday (February 19).
Detective Constable Sam Andrews, who investigated, said: “Hassani clearly thought he could pull the wool over our eyes and secure himself some free accommodation, despite his clear intention and willingness to make money from dealing drugs.
“We take incidents of exploitation incredibly seriously and will always look to support and safeguard genuine victims and bring perpetrators to justice.
“In this instance, Hassani was not a victim, but a perpetrator, and the knowledge and expertise of officers left his story lacking and evidence mounting against him. I’m glad justice has been done, with more drugs and another dealer taken off our streets.”
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