Thousands of pounds in cash and a haul of cocaine found by police during search
Police found a large haul of cocaine and a stash of more than £5,000 cash after searching a man’s home and looking inside his van. He was “rather good” at making money out of selling drugs to friends and he had an “expectation of significant financial advantage” from his cocaine dealing activities, Hull Crown Court heard.
Robert Sashalmi, 45, of The Rydales, off Beverley Road, Hull, admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply and a money laundering offence of acquiring criminal property on November 29, 2021.
Samantha Laws, prosecuting, said that police went to Sashalmi’s home to execute a warrant on other matters on November 26, 2021. He went to Clough Road police station, Hull, on November 29 and his home was searched.
Items relating to drugs were found, including boxes of medication, tablets, syringes, receipts and cash. His van was searched and inside it was a hydraulic press with metal moulds and plates, weighing scales, cash and plastic bags.
Cocaine, weighing 54.91g, with an estimated street value of £4,920, was found. There was also 157.8g of a cutting agent to dilute the strength of the cocaine as well as other cutting agents.
The total cash seized was £5,007. Sashalmi’s mobile phone was seized and there were messages on it relating to drug supply. The messages suggested that he was controlling other suppliers as well as supplying drugs to others himself.
“There was an expectation of significant financial advantage,” said Miss Laws. Sashalmi had convictions for two previous offences – producing cannabis and possessing criminal property in 2014, when he was given a 20-month suspended prison sentence.
Julia Baggs, mitigating, said that Sashalmi started using drugs recreationally but he became dependent on them and supplied them to friends and associates. “He was rather good at it,” said Miss Baggs. This could be seen from the amount of cash that the police found.
“He does not seek to minimise his behaviour,” said Miss Baggs. “He recognises the harm that drug use can cause.”
Father-of-two Sashalmi had kept out of trouble in the four years since the offences. He was a tiler by trade but he suffered an accident in which he lost the sight in an eye, meaning that he could not work and that he claimed benefit.
Sashalmi was given a two-year suspended prison sentence, with no requirements. The £5,007 cash seized will be forfeited and given to the St Paul’s boxing club charity.