A man from Hounslow has been sentenced to ten years in prison after being found in possession of drugs with a street value of £1.6 million. 

Albert Saidu Hines, 58, of Sheridan Court, Hounslow was sentenced to ten years in prison following a trial at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday 12th May. 

Hines was found in possession of £1.6 million worth of drugs, including cocaine and ketamine, following a proactive operation from the Metropolitan Police. 

Hines was identified on 10th October 2022 when he was seen entering a self-storage facility in West Mosely, Surrey where he struggled to put a large cardboard box into a Kia Sportage. 

The following day at 1.35am, he was seen meeting with another man on Woodfield Road, Hounslow and during that meeting 21kg of ketamine was supplied to the man later identified as Anthony Clinton, 60 (09.05.63) of Cromes Place, Badersfield. 

Hines was then arrested on Tuesday 18th October at 9.55am in Pidwick Close, Hounslow and after searching his car, officers found three boxes which each contained three large bags of a white powder, which were established as 5.5kg of ketamine, another box contained 2kg blocks of cocaine, and two knuckle dusters were found in the glove box. 

A further search as the storage facility found a money counting machine and cash. 

Detective Chief Inspector Glenn Butler said: "Ketamine can cause serious health damage to users which can include increase in heart rate, affect memory and cause liver or bladder damage. 

"Significant proactive work has been undertaken by teams across Specialist Crime and has seen a substantial increase in ketamine seizures in the past year. 

"Over a tonne of ketamine has been seized which is a significant increase from previous years. Ketamine is a controlled drug that can also have fatal consequences and causes harm to our communities." 

"The Met is determined to target those individuals involved in the supply chain, like Hines, who has received a significant sentence for supplying large quantities of ketamine." 

Hines pleaded guilty to: possession with intent to supply of Class A drugs (2.06kg cocaine), possession with intent to supply of Class B drugs (121.222kg ketamine), concerned in the supply of Class B drugs (21kg of Ketamine), possession of an offensive weapon (two knuckle dusters), use a copy of a false instrument with intent it be acceptable as genuine (a fraudulent driving license).