Leading Bedford drug supplier jailed

A leading member of a gang supplying Class A drugs in Bedford has been jailed for five years and six months.

Reece Thandi, 21, of Edwards Close, who led the ‘Capone’ drug supply network, was jailed today (Thursday) at Luton Crown Court after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin and obstructing an officer from conducting a search.

He was caught after detectives from Bedfordshire Police’s specialist guns and gangs unit, Boson, used specialist technology to link him to the phones that were being used by the gang to run their drugs line.

When police executed a warrant at a flat in Bedford they found Thandi, phones and a quantity of Class A drugs and cannabis.

A day after the first phone was seized by police, a second line had been set up to carry on his drug supply network, because Thandi had swallowed the first line Simcard in a bid to obstruct police.

More than 170 numbers were found to have had contact with both lines.

Detective Constable Adam Geary from Boson said: “The Capone line was a major player in the daily supply of hard drugs around Bedford, so to convict one of their leaders is really pleasing.

“We’re urging the public to do their bit in helping to put criminals such as Thandi behind bars by getting in touch with any information about drug activity in their communities.

“Any information you can give us helps us form an intelligence picture, which ultimately can lead us to arresting those involved and stopping the drugs lines from operating in that area. This in turn sees a reduction in drug related activity and associated anti-social behaviour in the affected communities, so it’s really important you do get in touch with us.”

Anyone with information about drug related crime in their area should contact police on 101 or via the Bedfordshire Police website.

You can also provide information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

For further information on the links between violence, exploitation and organised crime visit the bavex website.