Southend: Drug dealer jailed for five and a half years

A drug dealer has been jailed for five and a half years after failing to outrun our officers.

Claudio Tunio, 28, was arrested last month (February) in Southend after two of our specialist South Disruptor officers noticed him acting suspiciously and followed him.

Tunio ran off but they quickly caught up with him in College Way and detained him.

A member of the public kindly told them Tunio had thrown something under a nearby vehicle and our officers recovered 35 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin.

Following a search of Tunio’s address in Trinity Gardens, East London, officers seized a further 142 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin, along with weighing scales, cannabis and substantial amount of cash. The drugs recovered have an estimated street value of £1,770.

Tunio was charged with, and admitted, charges of possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, possession with intent to supply heroin and cannabis possession.

And at Basildon Crown Court, on Thursday 24 March, he was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail for each of the possession with intent to supply charges, to run concurrently, and a further month for cannabis possession, again to run concurrently.

“Drugs and drug dealers cause a great deal of harm, not only to those who use them, but in local communities too.
“They are both associated with violence and misery but, thankfully, this is one more dealer we have taken off the streets of Southend for a long time.”
Investigating officer PC Scott James

 

Do you have information for us?

If you believe someone is involved in drugs or other criminal activity, please report it to us.

We won't tolerate people exploiting vulnerable people in our communities.

If it’s a crime in progress, always ring 999.

If you have any information, please go to our website home page where, between 7am and 11pm you can provide information directly to one of our online operators by selecting the 'Live Chat' button at the bottom right of the page. This will ensure your report is dealt with as quickly as possible.

Alternatively, you can submit an online report here or call 101.

You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, online or by calling 0800 555 111.