POLICE were forced to keep a round-the-clock watch on a dealer who kept a package of class A drugs in his bottom for nine days in a bid to evade prosecution.

Mounkadir Mustapha was seen by an off-duty police officer approaching a teenager for a suspected drugs deal near the McDonald's in Old Christchurch Road at around 2.20pm on Tuesday, April 11.

The officer knew Mustapha as he had stopped and searched him previously.

The following day, Wednesday, April 12, the 25-year-old was arrested in Bournemouth Gardens at 3.30pm after he was spotted carrying out a drugs deal with another man.

He was then taken to the police station for a drugs search.

During the search, a sock containing 10 wraps of cannabis was found in his boxer shorts, and he was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cannabis.

However, officers then discovered another package had been secreted inside Mutapha's bottom. He withheld the package for nine days - some 216 hours - during which time he remained under constant police observation by police.

He was eventually further arrested for possession with intent to supply a class A drug and charged.

Officers found numerous texts relating to class A drug dealing on his mobile phone.

The defendant, of Rutherwick Rise, Coulsdon, Surrey, appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Monday, August 14 and pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis. He also admitted being concerned in the control and supply of heroin and crack cocaine.

He was sentenced to three years and five months in prison.

PC Stuart Grant, of Bournemouth Central Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Drug dealing and misuse has a huge impact on communities.

"Mustapha attempted to conceal the class A drugs for a significant period of time and this case highlights our persistence in targeting drug dealing.

Dorset Police takes these cases extremely seriously and we will do all we can to target those who come to Dorset to deal drugs. Our message is simple – you will be caught and dealt with robustly by the court.”