A drug dealer from Croydon has been jailed for drug and money laundering offences.

Ben Kudjodji, 29, of Mulgrave Road, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court to six years in prison on January 31.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply cocaine, one count each of possession with intent to supply cannabis and MDMA, as well as possession of criminal property.

Kudjodji was one of two people jailed as Karl Dowbiggin, 48, of Tapestry Gardens in Birkenhead, Wirral, was jailed for nine years.

He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and MDMA.

It was when police approached a car in Hurst Road, Croydon, last year that vehicle passenger Kudjodji tried to flee from police but was arrested following a foot chase.

Dowbiggin was removed from the car, at which point a blue carrier bag fell out where 2,000 MDMA tablets were discovered inside it.

Officers later searched him and found a train ticket which showed he had travelled from Liverpool earlier that day on July 2 last year.

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Karl Dowbiggin. Photo: Metropolitan Police

The car was revealed to have 125g of “high purity” cocaine in the driver’s door and £4,500 in Dowbiggin’s rucksack as both were arrested for possession with intent to supply cocaine and MDMA.

Police would later search Kudjodi’s home and find £28,000 in cash, while investigations of his girlfriend’s property saw them recover 146g of “high purity” cocaine, 85g of cannabis, 28.7g of MDMA and a set of electronic scales.

Kudjodji pleaded guilty to all the charges before going to trial.

Although Dowbiggin admitted to all charges on the first day of his trial last November, he later changed his mind to try and take back the MDMA charge but this was rejected.

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The drugs. Photo: Metropolitan Police

Detective Superintendent Neil Ballard, from the Met’s specialist crime command, said: “These convictions show the MPS’ commitment to tackling organised criminals who seek to profit from the misery inflicted by the distribution of drugs.

“I am pleased that these two men now face a significant prison sentence.

“I would encourage anyone who has information regarding the supply of drugs to contact police with their concerns, so that appropriate action can be taken against the criminals involved.”