William C Lopez 
Two drug dealers operating in Lichfield have been jailed after we unearthed an estimated £14,000-worth of cocaine in searches last year.
Michael Jones, aged 36, of Lichfield, and Charlie Bayliss, aged 19, of Bloxwich, Walsall, were both arrested when officers stormed their way into a flat in Lichfield following intelligence they were running a drug line.
The main drug phone was seized, as well as Jones’ personal phone, which was being used to advertise drugs locally. A search of the flat led to the discovery of around £14,000-worth of cocaine, multiple deals of cannabis, cash, scales and a customer tick list.
A year before, Bayliss was arrested in a separate incident after we stopped him on Walsall Road, Lichfield. He was found carrying a knife and cannabis.
We gathered all of the evidence and charged them both with the offences. They were both sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on Friday 2 August.
Bayliss was jailed for four-years after admitting being concerned in the supply of cocaine, cannabis, possession of a knife in a public place and possession of a controlled drug of class B (cannabis).
Jones was sentenced to two-years-and-six-months after he pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, cannabis and possession with intent to supply cocaine.
We’ve arrested more than 1,000 people suspected of drug and weapon offences since we launched a crackdown on serious organised crime in May last year.
Officers are continuing to work proactively to target groups and individuals responsible for high-harm crimes, including county lines drug distribution, illegal firearms activity, modern slavery, and cyber-crime in our county.
