Drug dealer, 41, jailed for more than eight years for supplying cocaine in Basingstoke

A drug dealer has been jailed for more than eight years for supplying 2kg of cocaine in Basingstoke.

Ruzhdi Nela, 41, of Crockford Park Road, Addlestone, Surrey, arranged drugs deals before directing a driver to the user’s location between July 2021 and March 2022.

Through various police enquiries, Nela was identified as being the line holder for both the Pablo and Dr Frank drugs lines which ran in the town.

Nela would message drug users and set up deals while sat in his home in Surrey. A driver would then deliver the drugs to the user in Basingstoke.

In March 2022, officers executed a warrant at his home address and found the mobile phone which was linked to the number that was sending the messages to drug users.

Officers seized more than £9,000 in cash, along with designer clothing and receipts from his home.

Nela was arrested by officers and later charged. He denied being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug and acquiring / using / possessing criminal property, but was convicted following a trial at Winchester Crown Court.

On Friday 22 December, Nela was jailed for eight years and six months at the same court.

Investigator Matt Nettleton, from the Northern Area Crime Team, said: “Ruzhdi Nela supplied 2kg of cocaine in Basingstoke through a county line which operated initially as Pablo and then Dr Frank.

“Nela was sat in his home address in Addlestone when he arranged drug deals by directing a driver to the user’s location.

“His criminality enabled him to live a luxury lifestyle and he made routine visits to luxury shopping locations including Bicester Village.

“I hope this sentence highlights that our officers will do everything in their power to ensure Basingstoke is not targeted by violent drugs networks.

“We know that drug supply causes harm and misery to our communities and is linked to acquisitive crime, as well as some of the most serious violence we see.

“We want you to know that we will relentlessly pursue criminals so that their lives, not those of local people, are a misery.”