Man tried to sell drugs while on bail

Feb 28 2008 by David James, South Wales Echo

A STREET drug dealer was caught peddling Class A drugs during daylight while on bail for the same offence.

Ahbab Ali, 34, had been allowed to walk out of Cardiff Magistrates’ Court the day after being caught peddling heroin in Cardiff Bay. Two weeks later, he was arrested in the middle of a second heroin deal on City Road, Roath, Cardiff.

In a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court last week, he was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply on both occasions.

The court heard Ali, of Tyndall Street, Butetown, Cardiff, was first caught at 10.30am, Wednesday, June 27 last year, on Schooner Way, Cardiff Bay.

Officers spotted him in the middle of a suspected drug deal and arrested him trying to dispose of three street deals of heroin.

A later search of his home uncovered electronic scales and £300 in cash.

He was remanded in custody but given bail at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court the next day.

Just over two weeks later at around 5pm on Saturday, July 15, officers spotted him involved in a suspected drug deal on City Road.

After a struggle, he was searched and officers found two street deals of heroin, two of crack cocaine and £60 cash.

When they searched his house, they found a second set of digital scales and seven grams of heroin.

Pc Gareth Morgan, of Cardiff Drug Squad, said: “We want to reassure the public, officers are working day and night to rid the city of drug dealers who have the false belief it is safe for them to sell these destructive drugs within our communities.”