“Prolific” drug dealers given 20 years in prison

Kyri Pantazi, 38, of High Street, Leagrave and Robert Wilson, 38, of High Street North, Dunstable were sentenced at Luton Crown Court on October 25.

An investigation by the Easter Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) found the men had received a kilo cocaine in London in December 2011 and travelled to the Beds/Herts border with it where Wilson was stopped by police on the A5. Wilson was charged with possession with intent to supply a Class A drug following the discovery of the cocaine which had a street value of £16,000 - £24,000 and he entered a not guilty plea.

He was then linked to further drugs offences in the Dunstable area and was later charged with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs following the discovery of 700 grams of cocaine and £13,000 cash linked to him at an address in Luton.

Pantazi was arrested in Luton in January 2012 after making off from police whilst in possession of a kilo of cannabis worth over £9,000 in street value.

He was charged with possession with intent to supply Class B drugs to which he pleaded not guilty at a hearing in January 2012.

In May 2012 he was also charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was linked to Wilson for the offence in London in December 2011.

Both men pleaded guilty in relation to the London offences of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs with intent to supply, along with guilty pleas to their individual offences.

Det Con Andrew Stock from ERSOU said: “The sentences awarded today emphasise the gravity of the offences committed by both Pantazi and Wilson who were prolific in London and across the Home Counties. Drugs destroy lives and these two men showed no regard or remorse for their actions and no respect for the law.

“This is a strong message to would-be drug dealers in our region – we will find you and you will be dealt with.”