A DRUG trafficker who led a gangster lifestyle supplying local dealers and laundering hundreds of thousands of pounds was sentenced to a total of more than seven years in prison this week.

Abdul Monir, 38, of Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans, pleaded guilty to possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply and money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act at the 11th hour as his trial was about to begin at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fulham said there had been overwhelming evidence about Monir supplying cocaine to other dealers in the district during 2007 and 2008 ahead of the trial.

He said: “The length of the prison sentence demonstrates the scale of criminality and drug trafficking Monir was responsible for.

“Detectives acted on carefully-developed intelligence about the scale of his drug trafficking and we are very grateful for the assistance of the community for their co-operation and assistance.

“After leading a gangster lifestyle in casinos, we made sure Monir was quickly stripped of his assets – a �50,000 BMW on his drive, �22,000 in cash and other finance was frozen under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).

“We estimate that he profited significantly from his drugs enterprise. Evidence was gathered and provided at court demonstrating that over �600,000 was put through a casino.

“A financial investigator will be continuing to pursue Monir’s assets in future legal proceedings so he will come out of prison with no financial benefit obtained through criminal means.”

Judge Peter Fenn said Monir had been very much concerned with the sale, distribution and packaging of the drugs, and he commented on the impact of the drug dealing on society, the level of addiction and the resulting acquisitive crime and more serious offences.

He sentenced him to seven-and-a-half years in prison for drug possession with intent to supply and three years for money laundering, to run concurrently.

Monir was brought to justice following the arrest of 19 men between the ages of 17 and 29 from the St Albans district, who were charged or bailed for supplying cocaine and converting criminal property under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) in November 2008.

DCI Fulham added: “I would like to especially thank Detective Constable Jon Kearney, Sergeant Anna Borella, Detective Sergeant Neil Langford and Financial Investigator Steve Gee-Finch for their detailed investigation, hard-work and commitment in this lengthy case.”