A drug dealer caught trying to flush away a large bag of cannabis as police raided his home has been jailed for nine-months.

Basildon Crown Court heard how, acting on intelligence, officers from the South Operation Raptor team executed a warrant at a flat in Shortlands, Basildon on February 22 this year.

As they forced open the door and raced up the stairs they could hear 26-year-old Kebba Njie, who lived at the property, attempting to flush a large bag of cannabis down the toilet.

Two other bags of the Class B drug were on the floor of the bathroom.

Officers arrested Njie and searched the property. In total they seized three large bags of cannabis, £2,000 in cash, 100g of cannabis resin, digital scales used to weight drugs and phones linking him to the supply of drugs.

Njie was charged and pleaded guilty at Basildon Crown Court to two counts of possessing a Class B drug with intent to supply and possession of criminal property.

He was jailed for nine months and the court also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.

Following the sentencing investigating officer PC Adam Blackwell of the South Operation Raptor team said: “We caught Njie red-handed as he attempted to flush a significant amount of cannabis down the toilet.

“Sadly his efforts were in vain and we seized not just that drug, but cocaine and cash.

“I hope this case serves as a reminder to people that when we do receive information about drug or gang-related activity in the community we act on it.

“We want people to continue to tell us about those people causing harm in our communities by selling drugs and committing other crime. Your information is vital in helping us put these villains behind bars.”

Essex Police set up Operation Raptor teams in the South, North and West of the county to tackle drug and gang-related crime.

If you have information about drug or gang-related crime in your community, contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Njie was sentenced on Tuesday April 24.