Sheffield couple jailed for nine years over huge drug bust

A Sheffield couple have been sent to prison for a total of nine years amid a drug raid worth £100,000 in February.

On Friday 26th April, at Sheffield Crown Court, Shakeen Christian, 28, and Sophie Massey, 29, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin, cocaine and cannabis.

South Yorkshire Police officers executed a warrant at a property on Dagnam Crescent, Sheffield on Thursday 8th February.

The warrant at the couple’s home led to officers discovering both Class A and B drugs with a street value of more than £100,000.

Detective Sergeant James Dyson, of South Yorkshire Police, said: “I am extremely pleased with the outcome of our warrant which turned up a significant amount of dangerous drugs and has led to the successful prosecution of these offenders.”

The officers found approximately 1kg (2.2lbs) of heroin, worth an estimated street value of £100,000, alongside 156 grams (0.3lbs) of cocaine with a street value between £6,000 and £15,600 and 1kg (2.2lbs) of cannabis, worth up to £5,000.

Alongside the drugs confiscated, officers also took paraphernalia including; scales, snap bags, heat sealer, as well as mobile phones, and £600 cash from the property.

South Yorkshire Police has confirmed that the paraphernalia has been destroyed with the cash being forfeited as well.

Police have analysed the heroin that had been confiscated and found that it had been cut with several synthetic opioids.

These synthetic opioids are stronger than heroin and therefore would escalate the danger of using the class A drug.

Experts say this treatment and handling of the drugs in this manner increases the chance of an overdose for users. In 2021, 61 deaths in Sheffield were registered as a result of drug poisonings.

As an attempt to reduce the deaths connected to these lethal drugs, the Home Office announced at the beginning of 2023 that 11 synthetic opioids were being banned in the UK.

Sheffield Crown Court sentenced Christian to six years of imprisonment with Massey facing three years respectively. 

Det Sgt Dyson said: “Hopefully these custodial sentences will cause both offenders to think twice before involving themselves with illegal drugs again.”