THE head of a drug dealing business in the town who was arrested as part of Operation Muzzle has been locked up for more than four years.

Kwando Yeoboah-Asante, who had a part-time job as a courier, allowed a telephone registered to his girlfriend to be used to arrange orders for customers wanting heroin and cocaine, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Yeoboah-Asante, 32, of London, admitted supply cocaine and heroin and was jailed for a total of 50 months.

Sentencing him, Judge John Devaux said the fact that he had used a phone registered to his girlfriend showed he was unsophisticated in terms of drug dealing. “This was an active business selling drugs and you were involved over a three-month period,” said the judge.

Robert Sadd, prosecuting, described the defendant as the head of a business dealing in drugs.

He said Yeoboah-Asante had a telephone number that was passed around and was used for orders for drugs to be placed.

He had then sent out “foot soldiers” to deliver the drugs to customers.

“They took the greatest risk,” said Mr Sadd.

He said Yeoboah-Asante was the level above the foot soldiers and had been involved in the supply of drugs between May and July last year.

Stephanie Ward, for Yeoboah-Asante, said he deeply regretted getting involved in the supply of drugs and knew he had let himself down. Also before the court was Daniel Alexander, 25, of London, who admitted one offence of supplying a £20 wrap of crack cocaine to an undercover policeman during the same police operation which led to Yeoboah-Asante’s arrest.

He was described as a “foot soldier” used by people like Yoeboah-Asante and was jailed for 18 months.