Staffordshire Police raids on two homes in Cannock turned up a haul of class A drugs, cash and an illegal weapon, leading to jail terms for two young suppliers. Officers seized cocaine valued at over £3,000, £7,890 in total cash and a stun gun during searches last year.

The operation targeted drug supply networks in the area. On June 11, 2023, police arrested Cameron Preece at his home. A search there produced £2,500 in cash, cocaine, cannabis, digital scales and the stun gun. They also found a phone linked to a ‘drug line’ used for dealing.

Analysis of that phone led detectives to Jake Holford. Officers arrested him on July 31, 2023, and searched his residence. The raid yielded £3,390 worth of cocaine, £5,390 in cash, snap bags for packaging drugs, scales and three mobile phones, according to court records.

Both men initially denied involvement with illegal drugs during police interviews. A strong evidence file changed that. Holford pleaded guilty to charges including being concerned in the supply of cocaine, supply of class B cannabis, possession with intent to supply cocaine and acquiring criminal property.

Preece admitted to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis, acquiring criminal property and possessing a weapon designed to discharge a noxious liquid, gas or electrical incapacitation device.

Stafford Crown Court heard the cases together. Judge sentencing Holford to three years in prison. Preece drew a longer term of four years and eight months, reflecting his role and the weapons find, officials said.

Staffordshire Police hailed the convictions as a blow to local drug networks. The force has stepped up operations against class A suppliers in Cannock and surrounding areas. Detective leads noted the ‘drug line’ phone as key evidence, often used by dealers to take encrypted orders from customers.

Holford and Preece, both in their early 20s, now face years behind bars. Their guilty pleas came after forensic checks on phones and drugs confirmed supply intent. Cash seizures alone topped £7,800, with cocaine purity tests valuing it at £3,390 from Holford’s home plus more from Preece’s.

Courts increasingly target drug lines, which operate like fast-food delivery services for narcotics. Staffordshire officers continue similar probes, promising more arrests. The stun gun, prohibited without license, added seriousness to Preece’s charges.

Local residents welcomed the outcome. Drug supply fuels wider crime in Cannock, police reports state. These sentences disrupt operations and deter others, according to Staffordshire Police statements.