A man from Gosport has been sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of drug and firearm offences in Hampshire.
Aiden Hopkins, 30, was arrested after police stopped his Skoda Rapid on the A34, southbound towards Winchester, at around 9:30pm on June 13. During a search of the vehicle under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, officers discovered quantities of suspected Class A drugs hidden in the car’s sunglasses holder and near the handbrake. Hopkins’ mobile phone was also seized for investigation.
A subsequent search of Hopkins’ home on Howe Road in Gosport led to the discovery of more Class A drugs, drug paraphernalia, and a dismantled 12-gauge shotgun stored in a wardrobe. Analysis of the phone revealed Hopkins’ involvement in drug supply.
Hopkins was charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession of heroin with intent to supply, and possession of a firearm without a certificate. He pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on August 27.
Detective Sergeant Lisa Robins commented on the case, saying: “Tackling drugs supply is a priority for police, as it is all too often linked to serious violence, handling of weapons, and wider anti-social behaviour and criminality. It is a scourge on the community and makes people’s lives a misery.”
She also praised the officers involved in the operation: “Thanks to the proactive efforts of officers who stopped Hopkins’ vehicle, police were able to seize Class A drugs and a dangerous weapon. The subsequent investigation has also now resulted in Hopkins being sent to prison.”
Police have urged the public to continue reporting any information about drug activity in their neighbourhoods, stressing that all tips contribute to the broader effort to disrupt criminal networks.
Hopkins will serve his sentence for the offences, which underscore the ongoing issue of drugs and illegal weapons in communities across the region.
