Drugs dealer jailed as a result of being stopped and searched in Crewe

A class A drugs dealer from Crewe has been jailed after being caught in possession of more than £1,000 worth of heroin and crack cocaine.

Niko Lopata, from the West End area of the town, attempted to walk away from officers and make a phone call when they were trying to talk to him at around 3.30pm on Thursday 27th January 2022.

The officers were patrolling an area of Crewe that is known to be used for drug dealing.

They were on off-road motorbikes, as the area is difficult to access using traditional police vehicles.

Due to Lopata’s suspicious behaviour, the officers from Cheshire Constabulary’s Motorbike Unit stopped and searched the 19-year-old.

The search revealed that he was carrying a total of 80 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine, a further seven grams of heroin, a small bag of cannabis, a large Rambo-style knife and £673 in cash.

The estimated street value of the class A drugs seized from Lopata is between £1,040 and £1,340.

Lopata was arrested, and a subsequent search of his home revealed a quantity of bags that are used for street drug deals.

He refused to answer any questions when interviewed in custody and was subsequently charged with a number of offences.

Lopata pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs (heroin and class cocaine) as well as possession of a knife in a public place and possession of class B drug cannabis.

At Chester Crown Court on Monday 11 April he was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in a young offenders’ institution.

Detective Sergeant Richard Johnson, who oversaw the Investigation at Crewe CID, said: “This case emphasises the importance of the police’s power to stop and search people suspected to be involved in crime.

“It also shows the value of Cheshire Constabulary having off-road motorbikes and officers trained on how to use them to access areas that are otherwise difficult to police.

“As a result of those things, a class A drugs dealer and more than £1,000 worth of heroin and crack cocaine have been removed from our streets.

“Niko Lopata is now behind bars facing the consequences of his actions.

“At Cheshire Constabulary we are committed to doing all we can to make the county a hostile place for criminals and to remove those involved in the supply of illegal drugs from our communities.

“I hope that this case deters others from dealing drugs in Crewe or anywhere else in the county.”

Chief Inspector Andrew Smith, of Crewe Local Policing Unit, added: “Class A drugs cause untold damage to the lives of both those who use the drugs and become dependent on them and the wider community who suffer from the resulting crime.

“Drug dealing in Crewe or elsewhere in Cheshire will not be tolerated.

“While this investigation has now concluded, our fight against illegal drugs, and those who supply them, continues.

“Intelligence supplied by members of the public is crucial to this fight and I urge anyone with any information about suspected drug related activity in their community to get in touch.

“You will be listened to and we will investigate the matter.”

You can report suspected drug dealing to Cheshire Constabulary directly by giving the details online via https://www.cheshire.police.uk/ro/report or by calling 101.

Alternatively, information can also be given anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

Pictured - Niko Lopata from the West End area of Crewe.