Man given five-year prison sentence for drug offences in Suffolk and Essex

A man has been jailed for five years after pleading guilty to drugs and driving offences in Suffolk and Essex.

On 18 May last year officers from the Sentinel West ANPR Team stopped a Silver Hyundai as it entered Suffolk on the A14 near Newmarket.

The driver was detained for a Section 23 Misuse of Drugs Act search where officers located two mobile phones and a quantity of cash.

The man was arrested for being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs. While in custody, officers reviewed data on the mobile phones and located evidence linking him to the organised supply of cocaine throughout Suffolk.

Alfons Kojku, 37, of London Road, Peterborough, was subsequently charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine and driving a motor vehicle whilst otherwise in accordance with a license.

Officers were able to link this investigation to a previous arrest in Essex where officers there had stopped Kojku under similar circumstances but where he had not yet been charged. Working together with colleagues in Essex, officers were also able to charge Kojku with being concerned in the supply of cocaine and another charge of possession with intent to supply cocaine dating back to 2023 in Essex.

Kojku was remanded in custody before appearing at Ipswich Crown court on 3 January where he pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to a total of five years' imprisonment. The judge also ordered forfeitures of £2,010 cash that had been seized by police.

Sergeant George Laflin from the West Area Sentinel Team in Suffolk said: “The sentencing of Kojku sends out a clear message that we will robustly deal with individuals that are involved in organised criminality and those that scourge our communities by dealing drugs.

“In this case we worked closely with our colleagues in Essex to achieve a positive result. As a result of his actions, Kojku will now spend a significant time in prison.” 

The arrest and investigation was led by the Sentinel West team. The three Sentinel teams across the south, west and eastern areas of the county provide enhanced coverage of Suffolk’s road network to proactively disrupt serious and organised criminal activity as well as increase police visibility. The mobile unit disrupts criminals and protects communities across Suffolk’s road network using a variety of techniques to deal with offenders involved.

If you suspect drug activity report this via the website www.suffolk.police.uk/contact-us/report-something/report-crime, call 101, or alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers to report anonymously – either online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111.