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A drug dealer was found to have hidden bags of brown powder “'between his buttocks' after being caught by police. Sakiraya Yahja, 24, was arrested after police were called to Brandwood Street in Daubhill on March 25, 2022. More than two years on Bolton Crown Court heard how the the drugs were found when officers started searching Yahja after arresting him in connection with an unrelated issue.
Prosecutor Katie Walden said: “As he was searched, he was found to be in possession of a bag containing several smaller bags of white powder.” Ms Walden told the court that Yahja was then taken to Bolton Police Station where he was searched further and officers found smaller bags of brown powder “between his buttocks.” The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest) They then carried out a further search of his home and found yet more bags of powder, a set of scales, what appeared to be a debtors list and mobile phones.
Ms Walden said that one of the phones was found to have contained messages about drugs supply going “as far back as 2018.” The powders were found to be heroin and cocaine. Yahja, who has four previous convictions for 10 offences, gave no comment when interviewed by police.
But when brought before the courts he pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply. Christopher Lothian-Field, defending, said that Yahja deserved credit for his guilty plea and pointed out he was already in prison. This was after having been sentenced for a separate offence in Scotland earlier this year, but he has since been moved to HMP Forest Bank.
Mr Lothian-Field said: “To his immense credit Mr Yahja is very upfront about his role.” ALSO READ: Drug deaths in Bolton reach record high ALSO READ: New figures show rise in drug treatment deaths in Bolton ALSO READ: Drug related deaths reach record high He added: “He recognises that this was unacceptable and should not have happened.” Recorder Alexandra Simmonds accepted these points but said that the evidence from the mobile phones suggested Yahja, now of HMP Edinburgh on Stenhouse Road, Edinburgh, had been involved in drug dealing “for some time".
She also pointed out that he had already been jailed in July of this year in Scotland for several offences, including similar drug related crimes. Recorder Simmonds jailed Yahja for 27 months and ordered that the drugs and paraphernalia be seized and destroyed..
