A drug dealer was jailed for seven years after being caught with a shoebox containing 2kg of cocaine.

Mustafa Farah, aged 35, was stopped by police while travelling in a taxi on the A41 near Elstree on September 11, 2014.

Officers found the shoebox concealed underneath a mat in a foot well.

The box contained two brick-sized packages containing cocaine with a purity of 78 per cent.

Farah was a passenger in the silver Vauxhall Zafira and was believed to be travelling back to his home in Sellons Avenue, Harlesden, from Radlett where he had met a second man Nazmi Kurti, who had placed the drugs in the vehicle.

Farah denied any offences but was found guilty of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs at St Albans Crown Court.

Kurti, 32 and of St Leonards Court, Sandridge, was arrested several weeks later driving a blue Volvo. Kurti had been recently released from prison on licence for a similar offence committed in 2011.

He later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and in February this year was also sentenced to seven years in prison.

His Volvo was also seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the proceeds going towards paying off the Confiscation Order resulting from his previous conviction.

Detective Constable Graeme Balding, from the Constabulary’s Serious and Organised Crime Group, said afterwards: “Farah and Kurti were caught red-handed by Herts police officers trying to move a large quantity of cocaine.

"I have no doubt that if it had not been seized then it would have made its way onto the streets, either here in Hertfordshire or somewhere else in the country.

“Class A drugs have a devastating effect on users, and in turn their families and the communities they live in.

"The sentences reflect the seriousness of the offence and I hope their lengthy jail-terms will give them time to reflect and move on from their offending behaviour.”