Police have taken ‘another drug dealer’ of the streets of Southend.

Claudio Tunio had tried to hide 35 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin under a car when he was chased through the city in February.

He had thrown the drugs under the vehicle while being chased by officers from the South Disruptor team.

But they eventually caught up with Tunio in College Way and detained him.

An eyewitness spotted the dealer throwing the drugs under the car and informed police, who went and found the stash.

Following a search of Tunio’s address in Trinity Gardens, East London, officers seized a further 142 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin, along with weighing scales, cannabis and substantial amount of cash.

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The drugs recovered had an estimated street value of £1,770.

Tunio was charged with, and admitted, charges of possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, possession with intent to supply heroin and cannabis possession.

At Basildon Crown Court last week, he was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail for each of the possession with intent to supply charges, to run concurrently, and a further month for cannabis possession, again to run concurrently.

Investigating officer PC Scott James said: ““Drugs and drug dealers cause a great deal of harm, not only to those who use them, but in local communities too.

“They are both associated with violence and misery but, thankfully, this is one more dealer we have taken off the streets of Southend for a long time.”