A man, identified as Anh Hoang, has been sentenced to six years in prison after inadvertently dropping a plastic bag containing cocaine worth £200,000 while being detained by West Yorkshire Police in Gipton, Leeds. Hoang, aged 47, was apprehended under the Misuse of Drugs Act during the police operation known as Programme Precision.
Following his arrest, Hoang accidentally let go of a plastic bag containing two 1kg bricks of a white substance, later confirmed to be cocaine. Investigators determined that the seized cocaine had a substantial street value in the six figures and described Hoang as a “career criminal” significantly involved in the distribution of Class A drugs.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reported that Hoang was apprehended by officers near his residence while carrying the illicit substances. In addition to the drugs found in his possession, he was also carrying two phones and £288 in cash. A subsequent search of his residence uncovered a collection of designer clothing valued at £24,000, £420 in a wallet, scales with white residue, and a razor blade.
Hoang, residing on Copgrove Road, pleaded guilty to the charge of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply. Detective Inspector Kevin Daly of the Force Programme Precision highlighted Hoang’s criminal history, stating that he had previously been convicted and imprisoned for drug-related offenses, establishing him as a repeat offender in drug supply activities.
Court records revealed that Hoang had been convicted 20 times for various offenses, including drug dealing and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, resulting in previous sentences of five and eleven years. Although Hoang’s representative, Kara Frith, characterized him as a “low-level street dealer,” she acknowledged that he was fully aware of the risks associated with his actions and expressed regret for letting down his family and children.
Frith explained that Hoang had lost his job and succumbed to the temptation of drug dealing as a means to support himself and his family quickly. Despite his remorse, Hoang was sentenced to six years in prison by Judge Kate Rayfield following his recent trial.
