Blakelaw drug dealer involved in a large-scale plot to supply cocaine and heroin has been jailed

Christopher Finlay has been jailed for his role in the supply of Class A drugs throughout the region.

The 39-year-old, from Blakelaw, is already serving a custodal sentence after he was found to have stashed two kilogrames of cocaine inside a hidden compartment of his car when he was pulled over by officers in May 2020.

He was jailed for four years and eight months for that offence on October 6, 2020, at Newcastle Crown Court after admitting to possessing cocaine with the intent to supply.

Following that conviction, further investigations allowed officers to infiltrate a number of encrypted messages which showed Finlay’s involvement in the supply of large quantities of cocaine and heroin.

In a search of his Newcastle address, officers discovered a ‘drug tick list’ which showed that Finlay was involved in the supply of 114 kilograms of cocaine and 18 kilograms of heroin between July 2019 and May 2020.

He was subsequently interviewd and in September 2022, pleaded guilty to being part of a conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin.

On Tuesday, March 14, he was kailed for seven-and-a-half years at Newcastle Crown Court.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Marc Michael, of Northumbria Police’s Crime Department, said: “This is an outstanding outcome which is the result of some excellent work by a number of detectives and officers.

“They have shown superb diligence and determination to make sure Finlay was brought to justice for his role in this large-scale conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin across our region.

“There is no place in our communities for illicit substances such as these, and this is the latest in a long line of successes under the banner of Operation Sentinel – our dedicated initiative to tackling serious and organised crime in the North East.

“I hope Finlay’s conviction sends out a strong message that reverberates across our communities. We will not tolerate drug-related crime and will use every tactic available in order to pursue perpetrators and ensure they have their day in court.

“I would like to thank everyone who played their part in this successful conviction, and we will continue to do all we can in order to stop drug dealers in their tracks.”

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