A dealer who bragged about his criminal lifestyle idealer who bragged about his criminal lifestyle in a music video he made has been jailed.
Adetokunbo Ajibola, 26 (10.02.1992) was sentenced to a total of five years’ imprisonment at Harrow Crown Court on Friday, 1 March after admitting to possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of cannabis with intent to supply and possession of criminal property at a previous hearing.
Officers from Brent Gangs Unit executed a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 at a multi-occupancy address in Sneyd Road, Willesden NW2 on 25 April.
As officers forced entry to the premises, Ajibola jumped from a second floor window and attempted to escape from officers. He was detained a short distance away on the roof of a garage and arrested.
The rooms at the address were searched. The second floor was described in court as a “drug preparation factory”. Officers found what was later confirmed as 241 grams of high-purity cocaine and mixing agents, along with nearly 60 grams of crack cocaine, and 240 grams of cannabis. The potential street value of the drugs was in excess of £30,000.
In Ajibola’s first-floor bedroom, officers found £13,000 in cash, a custom gold pendant and chain valued at around £15,000, and high-value clothing valued at more than £10,000. All of these items were seized.
After being charged, he first appeared at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on 26 April 2018. He pleaded guilty to the offences at Harrow Crown Court on 27 June 2018.
Ajibola is a popular rapper who goes by the stage name Trapstar Toxic.
A music video for a song called “Out Ere” that makes explicit references to drug dealing was introduced in prosecution evidence and shown to the court. In this video Ajibola recited lyrics “weight [drugs] in the trap and I’ll be done if feds [police] raid it, I’m one step ahead I ain’t complacent”.
Passing sentence, the Recorder said that Ajibola was connected to “an extremely sophisticated, profitable drug operation”.
PC Dec James from Brent Gangs Unit, who led the investigation, said: “Ajibola played a leading role in the control of the Class A and B drugs markets in the Willesden area.
“He reaped the financial rewards of his illegal enterprise with no thought given to the misery of drugs supply that he brought to the community where he lived. He even talked about this criminal activity in his music.
“The jail sentence passed today rightly reflects the dim view the courts take of the harm that drug supply is known to cause – violence, anti-social behaviour, and linked issues with mental health and drug addiction and dependency.
“The Police will now begin confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover the assets seized, to ensure that Ajibola does not profit from his criminality.”
Met Police Newsdesk
26 Years Each For Gang Who Threatened Police Officers With A Shotgun
Four gang members who threatened police officers with a firearm during a vehicle pursuit in east London last summer were sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, 1 March.
Lekan Akinsoji, 21 (15.01.98), of no fixed address had previously been found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to commit GBH. He was sentenced to 26 years’ imprisonment.
Nathaniel Lewis, 23 (06.01.96), of Earlham Grove, E7 had previously been found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to commit GBH. He was sentenced to 26 years’ imprisonment.
Darnell Joseph-Newill, 21 (26.03.97), of Willis Road, E15 had previously been found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to commit GBH. He was sentenced to 26 years’ imprisonment.
Troy Ifill, 22 (13.12.96) of Torrens Square, E15 had previously been found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to commit GBH. He was sentenced to 26 years’ imprisonment.
Recognising the dangerousness of the offending, the judge ordered that each man must serve a minimum of two-thirds of the sentence before being eligible to apply for parole.
On 26 July 2018 at approximately 22:45hrs, police were called to Lascelles Close, E11, to reports of men in the area brandishing a firearm.
Armed officers made their way to the area and spotted a BMW Series 1 matching the description of the car on Cathall Road, Leytonstone. After following the vehicle for a short time, the car made off. Officers activated blue lights and sirens indicating for the car to stop, but it did not.
A pursuit began on Cobden Road, E11, ending in Bective Road, E7. During the pursuit the occupants of the vehicle brandished a firearm at officers in the marked police vehicle.
Officers used a specialist pursuit tactic, making contact with the BMW, causing damage to both vehicles. The BMW failed to stop and continued at high speed along Odessa Road. During this part of the pursuit the officers in the ARV believed they saw the gun pointed at them again.
The pursuit ended when the BMW was blocked by an oncoming vehicle in Bective Road. The driver of the BMW fled the scene whilst the other occupants of the car were detained by police. All of the men were wearing face coverings and gloves and one man wore a clown mask. Two of the men were carrying lock knives.
Officers discovered a loaded shortened shotgun, a large Zombie-style knife and a Zombie-style axe in the car. A hunting knife was found under the car. A can of petrol together with the original registration plate belonging to the car were also found in the back of the vehicle.
It was later established that the car had been stolen during a burglary in Barnet earlier in July. The firearm was examined by a forensic firearms expert and identified as a single-barrelled shotgun, loaded with a 12-bore cartridge.
All four men were found to be gang members and had produced a number of ‘drill’ music videos, including videos bragging about gang activity and serious criminality.
The judge stated that the men knew what they were doing, adding that none of them were ‘naïve or immature’. He added that in his mind, if they had found a rival gang member, there is no doubt that they would have inflicted ‘life-threatening injuries’.
DCI Jane Topping from Trident, said: “I am very pleased with the substantial sentences these men have been ordered to serve today. These are extremely dangerous men with strong gang affiliations, as was recognised by the judge.
“Given the weapons they had with them, including a firearm and zombie knives, I have no doubt that their intention was to seriously injure or kill someone.
“The men made no effort to stop for police and brandished a firearm at officers during the subsequent pursuit. I would like to pay tribute to the officers in the armed response vehicle who responded with bravery and professionalism in arresting these men.
I hope that today’s sentence sends out a clear message to anyone thinking of carrying a weapon that the Met Police works tirelessly to bring violent criminals to justice, and that the courts will seek to impose stringent sentences wherever necessary.”
Met Police Newsdesk