Bristol Drug Dealer Busted in Major Heroin and Cocaine Sting
Assane Simpson, 26, from Knowle, Bristol, has been locked up for nearly a decade after police uncovered his role in a large-scale drug operation. His arrest came after phone evidence linked him to Gloucester drug dealer Aaron James, who was convicted just weeks earlier.
Phone Evidence Cracks Drug Supply Chain
Specialist teams from Gloucestershire Constabulary and Avon and Somerset Police cracked the case through meticulous analysis of two phones seized during the investigation. The phones revealed detailed conversations between Simpson and James arranging wholesale supply of heroin and cocaine.
- Simpson sent James a photo showing a quarter kilo of heroin circled to highlight poor quality.
- On another chat, Simpson negotiated selling half a kilo of cocaine for £19,000 and half a kilo of heroin in Cheltenham for £50,000.
Police say Simpson operated as a mid-level dealer, distributing large quantities to street-level sellers across the region.
Police Link Simpson to Wider Drug Network
Avon and Somerset officers had earlier seized half a kilogram of heroin from a man in Exeter, with Simpson’s fingerprints found on the packaging—showing his extensive reach beyond Bristol.
At Simpson’s home, officers found scales with heroin and cocaine traces. He was arrested on the M4 near Swindon in June.
Swift Justice for Notorious Dealer
Despite pleading not guilty, Simpson was convicted after a four-day trial at Gloucester Crown Court, where the jury took just an hour to deliver a guilty verdict. He was sentenced to nine and a half years for conspiring to supply heroin and cocaine, plus possessing false ID.
Earlier this month, 32-year-old Aaron Levi James from Gloucester was given a nine-year sentence after admitting involvement in Class A drug supply.
“Exploitative drug networks remain an operational priority for Gloucestershire Constabulary,” said Detective Chief Inspector Neil Smith. “The pain and harm drug dealers cause is abhorrent. We’ll keep targeting and disrupting their crimes.”
Investigator PC Andrew Smetham added: “Assane Simpson, also known as Andre, Reds or Big Reds, is now off our streets. This sentence sends a clear message — crime doesn’t pay.”
