A cocaine dealer hiding a knife who ran across busy roads to avoid police in Cannock has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Luciano Johnson-Ford, 20, of Wolverhampton, was driving a Mercedes on Mosswood Street on 27 November last year.

Proactive officers from our major and organised crime team were waiting nearby and spotted Johnson-Ford pull over next to a man and give him a snap seal bag. 

Officers caught up with the man and found a deal of cocaine that had been brought for £50. 

Johnson-Ford’s car was boxed in by officers on Watling Street. He got out and ran across a number of busy roads to try and escape, but he was quickly caught and arrested. 

We searched the car and found more than 80 deals of class A drugs and £1,170 in cash. Johnson-Ford didn’t have a driving licence either. 

Before being searched, he also told officers he had a hidden lock-knife on him.

After being charged with the offences, Johnson-Ford pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A (cocaine), possession of a knife in a public place, possession of criminal property, driving without a licence or insurance. 

He was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, at Stafford Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 9 January). He was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and made to pay £1,000 in costs. 

Since we launched our crackdown on major and organised crime in May 2023, we have arrested more than 1,000 people suspected of drug and weapon offences in Staffordshire. 

Proactive efforts are taking place every single day to go after those responsible for high harm crimes in our communities.