More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
This is the dramatic moment a Kent-based county lines drug gang operation was busted during a raid.
The dealers were making £1.5million a year peddling cocaine in Essex while picking up orders across the border in Kent.
Police raid the house where county line drug dealers were staying
As 11 members were jailed for a total of 65 years police released body-worn footage of the raid, with large quantities of cocaine and huge wads of cash recovered.
The offenders former part of the self-styled 'Dave' group, which was based in Gravesend and Dartford, but supplied substances in Southend.
During an operation between February and August last year, and before being discovered, the group made an estimated turn over of £1.5 million a year.
Eight of the gang pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine during earlier court proceedings, while the remaining three faced trial at Woolwich Crown Court which concluded in March.
The drug dealers were sentenced between Tuesday and Friday last week.
Jetmir Cenaj, 21, of Spring Vale North, Dartford was sentenced to 12 years and six months, while Aretur Gashi, 30, of College Road, Gravesend, was given 10 years and six months.
Nine other members of the gang were given sentences ranging from one to 10 years.
Mario Abbate, 27, and Zenel Byberi, 25, both of Old Road West, Gravesend, have been charged with conspiring to supply cocaine and will stand trial in October.
Evidence read out at court revealed the group had used a single phone number, which was subscribed to a person named Dave at an address in Southend, to interact with customers during the six-month period last year.
The name and addressed of the account holder is thought to be fake.
"They saw the misery caused from drug abuse as a means to make money..."
Cenaj and Gashi, who based themselves in Kent, were the main users of the mobile phone which would receive more than 750 calls and texts a day.
Once a message was received on the main number, a different phone would be used to send instructions to offenders based in Southend who were acting as couriers.
Police gathered evidence during more than 85 stings, including vehicle stops and raids.
Kent Police's investigating officer DC William Looker said: "These offenders were involved in a sophisticated plot to supply cocaine across Southend.
"They saw the misery caused from drug abuse as a means to make money and their successful prosecution means that 11 organised and unscrupulous offenders are facing a substantial amount of time in custody.
"Despite being involved in a well organised pattern of offending, we were able to painstakingly piece together evidence from small snippets of information and build a solid case to present to the courts. Our colleagues in Essex Police also assisted with several searches and proactive vehicle stops.
"Anyone with ambitions to supply drugs should be aware that we have resources and expertise to unravel their pattern of offending, no matter how sophisticated they may consider it to be."
