A DRUG dealer who was found with more than 300 wraps of crack cocaine, cocaine and heroin has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Luke Bartlett, 24, of Dickens Drive, Basildon, was also found with £1,800 in cash- which will now be ploughed back into police coffers to help fight drug-related crime.

He was arrested following a raid by the anti-drugs and gangs Operation Raptor squad at an address in Mistly Side, Basildon, on September 14.

Detective Inspector Chris Rose, from the Operation Raptor team in the south local policing area, said: "Another drug dealer has been taken off the streets and is now serving time behind bars.

“Drug dealers understandably cause unrest in our communities but Operation Raptor teams across the county are working to disrupt and detect the gangs who deal them and cause violence.

"Much of our work is intelligence led so I would appeal to anyone with information about gang activity where they live to contact us on 101.

“Anyone who would rather not speak to police can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Bartlett admitted five counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and one of possession of criminal property when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court.

During the raid, officers discovered 89 wraps of cocaine and 28 of heroin and seized about £300.

After the dealer was taken into custody officers searched his home address and found a further stash of drugs.

They found 165 wraps of crack cocaine, 3 wraps of cocaine and, 1 wrap of heroin and 36 ecstasy tablets.

About £1,500 in cash was found and a mobile phone seized at his address contained messages about drug dealing.

Bartlett was charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to supply heroin, one count of possession with intent to supply ecstasy and one count of possession of criminal property.

He was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment for each drugs offence to run at the same time as each other.

He was handed 12 months’ imprisonment for possession of criminal property, also to run at the same time.

An order was made for the cash seized from Bartlett not to be destroyed but to be used by Essex Police to combat drug related crime in Essex.