Man caught with £200k worth of drugs in Gunwharf is jailed

A drug dealer who was caught transporting an estimated £200,000 worth of crack cocaine and heroin has been jailed for five years.

Following an intelligence-based piece of work by the Isle of Wight High Harm team, police officers in Portsmouth stopped a car near Gunwharf at around 9.30pm on 28 June this year.

James Brian Rose, who was in the front passenger seat, immediately fled the vehicle.

The 27-year-old was pursued through Gunwharf Quays by police officers, who witnessed Rose throw a black rucksack into the water.

Attending officers arrested Rose and recovered the bag from the water. Inside, they found a number of large sealed packages, as well as Rose’s wallet which contained around £850 cash.

Enquiries determined that the packages contained crack and heroin with an estimated street value of approximately £200,000.

Rose, of North Road in Shanklin, was subsequently charged with two counts of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply, and one count of concealing criminal property.

He appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court for sentencing today (31 August), having previously admitted the offences, and was jailed for five years.

T/DC Callum Younger, who investigated the case, said: “This result follows some excellent proactive work by officers both on the Isle of Wight and on the mainland to intercept the supply of a significant quantity of drugs.

“Because of this, a huge amount of cocaine and heroin has been removed from the streets, and Rose is now behind bars.

“Much of the work we do as police officers to tackle drugs supply is intelligence-based, which is why it is so important that people continue to report to police any information about the suspected supply of drugs in their neighbourhood.

“You may not always see an immediate response, but please be reassured that lots of activity takes place behind the scenes and the information you provide all feeds into what we are doing.”

If you have information about drugs supply in your area, you can report this to police on 101, or via the report tool on our website: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/