Man jailed for Southampton drug dealing

A man has been jailed for drug dealing in Southampton.

Kareem Francis, 27, of Purbrook Close, Southampton, was sentenced to three years in prison at Southampton Crown Court on Thursday (12 January).

He previously pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

Francis was arrested on 3 October last year as part of a force-wide crackdown on drug networks.

Officers were in Meon Crescent when they witnessed a car involved in a possible drug deal.

The vehicle was followed by the officers until it was stopped by a marked police unit in Winchester Road.

Francis got out to be searched and left behind on his car seat was a quantity of cocaine and two phones.

A large amount of Class A drugs, cling film, scales and around £1,000 in cash were also found in his clothing.

Officers conducted enquiries which led them to a hotel room in Ocean Village that Francis had booked into, where more drugs were found and seized.

Messages on one of the phones showed that Francis was running the ‘Smal Boi’ drugs line operating mainly in Hythe and Eastleigh.

The drugs and paraphernalia have been destroyed.

PC Daniel Martin from Western Investigations was the officer in the case. He said: “We will not tolerate Class A drugs being supplied in Southampton; as well as the harm it causes to those taking the drugs, it brings organised crime, violence, weapons and exploitation of vulnerable adults and children into our community.

“By taking Francis off our streets Southampton is that much safer.

“Please continue to report information about drug dealing in your neighbourhood – you are our eyes and ears and help us to achieve results like this.”

Call 101, report on our website or via Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.