Sheffield drug dealer in 'desperate' escape bid as chainsaw-wielding police officers force entry to property
A Sheffield drug dealer involved with a supply phone line, estimated to have made £287k in just 10 months, suffered injuries caused by glass in a ‘desperate’ escape bid as police forced entry to his property using a chainsaw.
26-year-old Abdulaziz Haruna’s offending was uncovered, following a police raid at his home address in February 2023, when officers from the force’s Fortify team found evidence of an active drugs line branded ‘MO’.
A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson explained: “Slips of paper advertising the drugs line were also found, with the evidence pointing towards an organised and profitable drug dealing enterprise. The items gathered from the address suggested Haruna was involved in supplying the Class A drugs heroin and crack cocaine on a large scale.
“A second warrant was carried out at the home on 24 May 2023. As our officers forced entry to the property by means of a chainsaw, Haruna came crashing through the door in an apparent attempt to escape.
“He was arrested, treated for injuries caused by glass, and taken into custody.”
Detective Constable Darcy Hope, the officer in charge of this case, branded Haruna as the type of criminal who doesn’t care ‘who they hurt as long as they are making money’.
"This was demonstrated by Haruna posting pictures to his Snapchat account which showed him posing with large amounts of cash,” Det Con Hope said, speaking after Haruna was jailed.
An expert witness estimated the value of the drugs line Haruna was involved in the operation of over a 10-month period as being worth £287,280.
Haruna, of Middlewood Drive East, Middlewood, Sheffield, tried to deny the offences during a police interview by claiming one of the Nokia phones seized by police belonged to a friend.
“The overwhelming amount of evidence collected by our officers meant Haruna had no choice but to plead guilty to the supply of crack cocaine and heroin during a hearing at Bradford Crown Court on January 22, 2024,” the South Yorkshire Police spokesperson continued.
He received a prison sentence of seven years, three months during a Sheffield Crown Court hearing held on Friday (November 29, 2024).
Det Con Hope added: "Haruna denied any wrongdoing when we initially searched his home in February 2023, but his desperate attempt to escape arrest during our second visit - in which he seriously endangered his own safety - suggested otherwise.
"This has been a complex investigation involving numerous lines of enquiry which led to us being able to expose Haruna's role in a sophisticated drug dealing enterprise. Drugs have a huge impact on vulnerable members of our society who are taken advantage of by criminals who don't care who they hurt as long as they are making money.
"Today's result is the culmination of a lengthy process and I am pleased that Haruna will now be spending Christmas behind bars thanks to the work of our dedicated team. Our fight against drugs continues and I want to make it very clear that we are stronger with your help.
"If you suspect drug dealing is happening near where you live, report it to us.”
You can contact police online at: https://www.southyorkshire.police.uk/reportcrime
Alternatively, you can also get in touch with the force by calling 101.
“You will never be wasting our time, and your information could lead to a harmful offender like Haruna being taken off the streets,” Det Con Hope continued.
If you'd prefer to remain anonymous, you can also report to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.
Crimestoppers is a completely confidential service, and you will not be identified.