A DRUG dealer who moaned about the quality of his heroin was caught by police near Swindon, police said.

Bristol man Assane Simpson, 26, who was known by nicknames Andre or Big Reds, was caught after being linked to Gloucester drug dealer Aaron James. The men were involved in the wholesale supply of heroin and cocaine.

Phone analysis showed messages between the pair, including one message where Simpson sent a photograph of 250g of heroin – circling some of the drugs to show he was unhappy with the quality.

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The circled heroin Picture: GLOUCESTERSHIRE CONSTABULARY

In other conversations, Simpson discussed selling half a kilogram of cocaine for £19,000 and half a kilogram of heroin in Cheltenham for £50,000.

In all, they were said to have conspired to sell cocaine and heroin with a street value of £300,000. 

Simpson was stopped by police on the M4 near Swindon in June. Police suspected he was a mid- to high-ranking drug dealer, selling in bulk to other dealers.

He was convicted of conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine after a four-day trial at Gloucester Crown Court last week. He was jailed for nine-and-a-half years.

Aaron Levi James, 32, of Nutcroft, Gloucester, was given a nine year prison sentence after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of a class A drug and possession with intent to supply a class A drug.

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Assane Simpson (left) and Aaron James Picture: GLOUCESTERSHIRE CONSTABULARY

Welcoming the sentence, Det Ch Insp Neil Smith of Gloucestershire Constabulary said: “The pain and harm drug dealers cause to communities is abhorrent, they prey on the weak and vulnerable. We will continue to bring the full force of our resources into identifying them, targeting them and disrupting them.”