A DRUG dealer described as "an entrusted lieutenant" for an organised crime gang has been jailed after police found almost £65,000 in cash, cocaine and ketamine.

Michael Gayle, 40, from Wentworth Way in Ascot, pleaded guilty to three counts of possession with intent to supply, one count of possession of criminal property (cash) and one count of converting criminal properly at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday, July 22.

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Gayle was stopped and arrested by Hampshire Police whilst he was driving his BMW in Bracknell on March 3, when they found he was in possession of drugs.

He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs and associated money laundering offences by detectives from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit SEROCU.

Following his arrest, searches were conducted at his home address, a metal container which had been identified that Gayle had control of and vehicles belonging to and used by him.

Police found 1.7 kg of cannabis, 609 grams of cocaine, 423 grams of ketamine, £64,375.00 in cash and a number of mobile devices with one of the mobiles being an encrypted device.

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At Reading Crown Court it was shown that Gayle had taken a significant role in an organised crime group due to his 'greed and intentions' to make as much money as he possibly.

He was jailed for six years for the count of possession with intent to supply class A drugs (cocaine); six years for two counts of intent to supply class B drugs (cannabis and ketamine) to run concurrently; 18 months for possession of criminal property (cash) to run consecutively; and 18 months for converting criminal property to run concurrently, making a total of seven years, six months.

Whilst sentencing the Judge described his role as ‘an entrusted lieutenant’ and that Gayle’s greed for money was his main motivator.

Speaking after the sentencing, DI Clair Trueman, from SEROCU, said: "Gayle was a man driven by greed and he did not care about how his actions impacted the community.

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“This sentence comes at the end of a lengthy investigation and we will not stop in our pursuit of organised crime groups who seek to cause misery to our communities. We worked closely with Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police throughout the investigation to ensure Gayle was stopped from causing further harm.

“Drug dealing causes significant harm in our communities and our teams are unrelenting in their pursuit of those involved.

“Tackling the supply of drugs one of the biggest priorities for SEROCU, and we continue to work tirelessly using our specialist resources to ensure that criminals do not benefit from the proceeds of crime.

“I would urge anyone who thinks they may have information on potential drug dealing, regardless of the location, to contact police by calling 101.”