as early as

[Hanka]

Hi,

could you please tell me whether the phrase "as early as" is correctly used in the following sentence:

The findings obtained to date substantiate the suspicion that he sold drugs as early as in 2006 (OR already in 2006 ???) and continued doing so until his arrest.

Thank you very much.

Hanka

[Hanka]

and what should I use instead in my sentence?

[Anglika]

Hi,

could you please tell me whether the phrase "as early as" is correctly used in the following sentence:

The findings obtained to date substantiate the suspicion that he sold drugs as early as in 2006 (OR already in 2006 ???) and continued doing so until his arrest.

Thank you very much.

Hanka

It is ok, though you do not need "in" after the phrase.

"that he was selling drugs by 2006 and that he continued..." would be an alternative way of saying this.

[Anglika]

Thank you.

[Hanka]

and why "he had been selling"?

Would the sentence then sound:
.... he had been selling drugs as early as 2006 and continued doing so until ...?

Thanks a lot!