Dealer claimed seized cash was birthday gift

An unrepentant drug dealer tried and failed to convince officers that the large wad of cash he was carrying was actually a birthday gift.

Asked when his birthday was by the arresting officer, Hussnain Iqbal admitted it was actually in the following week – but claimed he always got his birthday money early from his parents.

His story soon unravelled when a bag of drugs fell from his trouser leg during a roadside search.

Moments earlier he had been found in possession of multiple bags of cannabis, cocaine and MDMA after the car he was travelling in was searched by members of the Knife Crime Team.

Officers had just seen a man enter and rapidly leave the parked VW Golf in Hampden Street on 17 May last year – a tell tale sign of a drug deal.

As well as the drugs and more than £350 in alleged ‘birthday money’, Iqbal was also found in possession of businesses cards under the name ‘Smokey’ – believed to be tools to advertise his illicit business.

Damningly, he was also the subject of an existing police investigation at the time of his arrest – after he was found with multiple deal bags of Class A and B drugs in his car on 4 May 2023.

After giving no comment answers during his police interviews, Iqbal later pleaded guilty to a combined four counts of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply, and four counts of possessing Class B drugs with intent to supply.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday 15 April, the now 27-year-old, of Wimbledon Road, Sherwood, was jailed for five years.

PC Daniel Cresswell,  of Nottinghamshire Police’s knife crime team, said:

“Iqbal is an unrepentant drug dealer who simply carried on with his illegal activities after his first arrest.

“Whilst his attempt to mislead us during his second arrest provided some amusement at the time, his trade in illegal drugs was anything but a joke.

“As a result, he will now spend a considerable length of time behind bars, where his birthdays will likely be a lot less enjoyable.”