A DRUG dealer has been jailed after being arrested by Maldon Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Ilirian Nezha, 24, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for being concerned in the supply of cocaine in Maldon.

This week, Maldon's policing teams have arrested three more people on suspicion of drugs offences in the district.

On Monday, 15 December, following a vehicle stop near Cold Norton, a large quantity of cannabis and cash was recovered during a search. Finley Walsh, 20, of Princes Avenue, Chelmsford, was charged with possession of cannabis resin. He is due to appear before Colchester magistrates on 3 February 2026.

Yesterday, 16 December, officers stopped another vehicle in Cross Road, Maldon, and found a quantity of suspected cocaine and cash.

Petrakis Lano, 31, appeared before Chelmsford magistrates charged with possession of cocaine with intent to supply and using a vehicle without insurance. The court remanded him in custody and committed him to Chelmsford Crown Court for sentence on 14 January 2026.

And last night, a 22-year-old West Bromwich man was arrested in Maypole Road near Heybridge on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. He is still in custody

In the two years to 30 November 2025, Maldon neighbourhood policing officers have made 44 arrests for drug supply and drug cultivation offences.

Of those, so far 28 people have been convicted, with the courts imposing a total of 50 years in jail. Other penalties have included suspended sentences and fines.

Ilirian Nezha is arrested.

Sergeant Matt Dalby explains the team could not do this work without community assistance.

"I am incredibly proud of the professionalism and determination that the Maldon policing teams are displaying in tackling criminality head on," he says.

"Maldon is a safe place to live and work and we intend to keep it that way but we need our community to help us.

"So, if you have information about drugs and drug dealing, or any other crime, please report it to us. We use it to identify emerging crime trends and to target our operational activity, as you can tell by the number of arrests we have made recently.

"If you are dealing drugs in Maldon or committing any type of criminality, we are probably already looking for you and we look forward to speaking with you soon."

Chelmsford Crown Court was told on 4 December that Nezha, of no fixed address in the Chelmsford district, was stopped at the junction of Green Lane, Mayland Hill and Highlands Hill in Mayland on 4 October.

Following a search of his car, which revealed a substantial quantity of cash and suspected drugs, Nezha was arrested and subsequently charged. An examination of his phone showed a number of messages concerned with the supply of drugs.

As well as the jail term, the court made a forfeiture order for £1,605 cash seized and a forfeiture and destruction order for his phone, and ordered him to pay a £187 victim surcharge.