Notorious Peckham Drug Dealer Nabbed After Four Years on the Run
Tip-Off Leads to Shocking Arrest
John Condeh, 35, a well-known drug dealer from Peckham, London, has finally been caught and locked up after nearly four years on the run. The dramatic arrest began when police received an anonymous tip on July 21, 2020.
Officers swooped on a St Leonards home on Marline Avenue, where they found Condeh chilling in an armchair. He tried to fool them with fake ID, but a search turned up a stash of suspected Class A drugs hidden right under him.
Drugs, Cash, and Caught by DNA
The bust didn’t stop there. Nearby, police found a car containing Condeh’s real identification and £1,400 in cash—clear proof of his illicit dealings. Forensic tests confirmed the drugs were heroin and crack cocaine, valued at around £400 in 2020.
Even more damning was the discovery of Condeh’s DNA on the drug packaging, tightening the noose around the crook.
On the Run, Then Caught in South East London
Though initially released on bail, Condeh disappeared from the radar. Sussex Police financial detectives cracked the case after spotting a car purchase agreement made in his name in 2023.
The lead ended with his arrest on November 6, 2023, caught red-handed behind the wheel of that same car in South East London.
Guilty Plea Lands 35 Months Behind Bars
In court at Lewes Crown Court on February 26, Condeh admitted to possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply, alongside possession of criminal property.
He was sentenced to 35 months in prison, bringing an end to his lengthy evasion of justice.
