A DRUG dealer has been jailed for seven years after police found a secret compartment in his car hiding about £30k worth of drugs.

Ikramul Hoque, of Long Barn Lane in Reading, was sentenced on Monday (August 21) at Reading Crown Court for multiple drug offences, possession of an imitation firearm and CS gas spray.

District Judge Greenfield sentenced the 29-year-old to seven years imprisonment, stating that, in his view, Hoque had a ‘significant leading role’ in the wholesale and commercial selling of drugs.

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Opening the case, prosecuting Charles Ward-Jackson told the court that Hoque was first caught in 2018 when his rented room in Winchester Road, Reading was searched by police on June 17.

Inside a JD sports bag, officers found a black blank-firing handgun, ammunition, £4,000 in cash, digital scales with drug residue on them, and packages of drugs including; about £11,000 in street value of crack cocaine, about £19,000 in street value of MDMA and about £2,500 in street value of heroin.

The total estimated street value was £33,685.

A CS gas spray was also found in his wardrobe along with knives, samurai swords and plastic drug bags.

Hoque turned himself into Loddon Valley Police Station when he found out his room had been searched and was released under investigation.

However, due to forensic analysis and the coronavirus pandemic, it took a while for Hoque to be charged.

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On April 13 this year, officers stopped Hoque in Rose Kiln Lane, Reading while he was driving a black vehicle.

Inside, they found £335 in cash and that a new carpet had been installed which indicated there could be a secret compartment.

The vehicle was sent to Dover and a hidden door was found under the driver's seat. Inside the compartment, police found multiple Class A drugs totalling about an estimated £30,000 in street value.

There was also £6,000 in cash and a black combat knife.

Mr Ward-Jackson said it was the view of a drug expert that the drugs were likely used in a wholesale capacity.

Defending Hoque, his barrister said he ‘needed some money’ for himself and for his young son. However, once he got involved ‘things escalated’ and it was ‘very hard for him to get out’.

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Hoque accepts his involvement was a ‘significant role’ but claims he was ‘not at the top end of the operation’.

It was added that the vehicle with the secret compartment did not belong to Hoque.