A drug dealer who escaped prison and spent three years on the run is going back to jail after being arrested in Welwyn Garden City last month.
Louis Okai absconded from HMP Hollesley Bay in Suffolk in December 2020, where he was serving a nine year and three-month sentence for possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
At around 11am on Wednesday, November 1, officers from the proactive Operation Scorpion team stopped the 41-year-old while he was cycling in Ludwick Way in Welwyn Garden City.
A search resulted in the seizure of 62 wraps of crack and 26 wraps of heroin, along with a large quantity of cash.
Okai was arrested, and while he was in custody, it was found that he had provided false details.
Officers quickly uncovered his real identity and he was charged with two counts of possession of a class A drug with intent to supply and escaping from lawful custody.
He was remanded in custody and pleaded guilty to the offences on Thursday, November 30.
He was handed a four year and two-month sentence, to be served after he finishes the rest of his 21 month-sentence that he had been serving before his escape.
"Operation Scorpion is a proactive unit, largely plain-clothed who are there to tackle a variety of acquisitive crime, including drug dealing," said Detective Inspector Bianca Broadbent.
"Thanks to the tenacity of our Welwyn Hatfield team, not only are a large quantity of class A drugs off our streets but now a prison absconder is going back to jail.
"Hopefully this news is reassuring to residents."
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