Dorset Police news site

A man has been jailed for drug supply offences as officers continue to target the supply of illegal drugs in our communities.

Abdul-Azizh Kamara, aged 31 and of Bournemouth, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday 11 October 2024 after he admitted two charges of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply, assaulting an emergency worker and two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

He was sentenced to a total of four years in prison.

At around 12.50pm on Friday 31 March 2023 Kamara was stopped in a vehicle on St Stephen’s Road in Bournemouth by officers involved in the Operation Scorpion regional crackdown on the supply of illegal drugs.

The defendant was seen to run from the vehicle and as he did so he sprayed an officer in the face with an unknown liquid. He also appeared to spit a number of wraps from his mouth.

He was detained nearby and searched. Kamara was found in possession of more than £1,000 in cash.

When he was arrested, he insisted the liquid sprayed at the officer was water.

Officers then carried out a search of the vehicle Kamara had been stopped in and the surrounding area, which resulted in them recovering 28 wraps of suspected class A drugs.

The contents of the wraps were analysed and found to contain cocaine and heroin, with a combined estimated value of more than £8,000.

Searches at the scene and an associated address also recovered more than £11,000 in cash.

Kamara was initially released on bail as further enquiries were conducted to compile evidence around his offending.

On Wednesday 11 September 2024 Kamara was arrested again outside an address in Richmond Hill in Bournemouth as part of a planned, intelligence-led operation after officers obtained information that he continued to be involved in the supply of class A drugs.

The operation was able to evidence his direct involvement in drug supply despite, on this occasion, no large quantities of drugs being found on him. 

Detective Sergeant Matt Cooke, of Dorset Police, said: “We remain committed to disrupting the activities of those who think it is acceptable to supply class A drugs in our communities and ensure we identify those involved and take robust action against them.

“Through our intensification weeks and intelligence gathering, we have been able to positively identify Abdul-Azizh Kamara’s involvement in the supply of class A drugs in the Bournemouth area and hold him to account for his offending.

“We continue to rely on our local communities for information and intelligence surrounding suspected drug related activity in their area. Anyone with information can report it to us at www.dorset.police.uk or call 101. If a crime is in progress, always dial 999.”

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: “This positive result demonstrates the impact community intelligence and robust policing can have in ending the misery drug dealing causes to our communities across Dorset.

“Op Scorpion has seen tremendous success over the past few years in removing illegal drugs and those who peddle them from our streets.

“I know the impact illegal drugs and related criminality has on people in our county and I continue to urge anyone with information or intelligence about suspected drug-related activity to report it.

“Your information could be the missing piece of the puzzle. Police cannot do this alone; help them to take more dealers off the street and make Dorset the safest place to live.”

WithYou provide support for adults and young people in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole facing challenges with drugs and alcohol.

If you need advice for yourself, or to support a loved one you can contact WithYou on 01202 558855. Web chat is also available via the website https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/local-hubs/bournemouth-christchurch-and-poole