A 55‑year‑old man has been jailed after officers uncovered over £100,000 worth of Class A drugs and criminal property.

On 9 January 2024, officers executed a warrant at an address on Lower Canal Walk as part of an ongoing investigation. Inside the property they discovered a substantial quantity of cocaine with an estimated street value of around £97,000. Officers also seized more than £23,000 in cash and a range of high‑value designer items – including Rolex watches and luxury footwear – worth in excess of £24,000.

Joel Diaz, of Lower Canal Walk, Southampton, was arrested at the scene and later charged with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and acquiring/using/possessing criminal property.

After pleading guilty to the charges, Diaz appeared at Southampton Crown Court yesterday (13 May), where he was sentenced to eight years in prison for possession with intent to supply Class A and four years for acquiring/using/possessing criminal property, to run concurrently.

Detective Constable Jordan Clayton, who led the investigation alongside Detective Constable Hannah Lumsden, said:

“This is an excellent result and we are pleased to see Diaz behind bars. Drug supply brings nothing but harm to our communities – it drives exploitation, fuels violence and leaves vulnerable people at risk. Diaz’s actions contributed directly to that cycle, and this sentence reflects the seriousness of his behaviour.

“A dangerous dealer has been removed from the streets and a significant amount of cocaine has been prevented from circulating within our city. Thanks to the work of officers on the day and the wider investigation team, we were able to dismantle Diaz’s operation and ensure he is no longer able to profit from the misery caused by Class A drugs.

“We will continue to target those who choose to bring drugs into Southampton and will use every tool available to disrupt their activity and protect our communities.”