A man from Worcester Park is facing a prison sentence of 11 years and nine months after police discovered £10,000 worth of cannabis in the boot of the car he was driving.

On March 18, 2020 at around 6:30pm Josef Dawod, 31, of Cleveland Road, in Worcester Park was stopped by officers in Everest Road in Stanwell.

Surrey Police say that officers “grew suspicious” due to the faint smell of cannabis in the car, a black BMW, that he was driving at the time.

Following an initial search, officers discovered £1,000 worth of cash in the driver’s door of the car.

A further search conducted led to the discovery of two mobile phones that were “constantly ringing” and one kilo of vacuum-packed cannabis valuing at over £10,000.

When questioned, Dawod claimed that the drugs were for “personal use” and that he was “stocking up” due to Covid restrictions.

Dawod was later charged for possession with intent to supply cannabis and possession with intent to supply Class B (other).

Between the time of the charge for the offence and Dawod’s first court appearance on June 15, 2021, he was further arrested and placed under investigation by Met Police’s Specialist Crime Command, for his involvement in a London-based organised crime group facilitating the importation of cocaine from Europe into the UK.

Dawod was charged along with several others and remanded to prison to await trial.

Surrey Police liaised with Met Police sharing evidence for the investigation.

Dawod later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cannabis, possession with intent to supply Class B (other), conspiracy to evade prohibition, conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Dawod was later sentenced on January 27 this year at Kingston Crown Court.

Investigating Officer, Detective Constable Daniel Bell, who led on the Surrey side of the investigation, said: “Drugs are a scourge on our society; they cause harm to everyone who comes into contact with them.

“Dawod was out to make himself a profit from other people’s suffering and I welcome the court's sentencing of him.

“He thought he was untouchable because he used encrypted phones to arrange his drug shipments but I hope this sentencing shows no one is untouchable if they choose to commit crime.

“Drugs have no place in Surrey.”