More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
These are the County Lines drug dealers locked up in Kent last month.
In total 49 arrests were made, 33 people were charged, 19 search warrants were executed and 32 drug seizures conducted as part of investigations into the criminal practice, which sees city-based gangs run Class A drugs into less saturated provincial marketplaces.
Dealers were brought to justice, receiving a combined sentence of 56 years and 10 months’ imprisonment, and £15,000 worth of cash was seized during search warrants and arrests.
Inspector Martin Williams said: "We are committed to dismantling the county line drug supply network in Kent.
"There were a number of significant arrests throughout March with substantial drug and cash seizures being made.
"My officers will now set their sights on those attempting to fill the void left by these dealers in an effort to disrupt the supply of Class A drugs in the county further."
Leon Wilson of Grove Road, Maidstone, was sentenced to four years and three months after admitting to supplying crack cocaine and heroin.
He was using a phone line associated with the supply of Class A drugs in Ramsgate between August and 25 November.
A search of Wilson’s home found a quantity of crack cocaine wrapped in clingfilm. Officers also seized a plastic tub containing heroin, two sets of digital scales, £525 in cash and two mobile phones.
Also beginning a custodial sentence is a man from Sittingbourne who was jailed for three years and nine months after admitting four drugs supply offences.
Christopher Tregunno, 30, of Tonge Road, supplied heroin and crack cocaine on behalf of a county line named ‘Trigger’.
During a search of his home, a mobile phone was seized and the handset’s data revealed it was being used to coordinate the supply of drugs for a county line which was active between July and September.
Demetri John-Lewis, 29, of Woodchester Square, Paddington, west London, was identified as operating the 'CC' line in Folkestone during a joint operation with Met Police.
He was arrested in March 2020 and found guilty of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court last month.
He was jailed for four years.
In Ashford, a controlled stop by officers on the M20 resulted in charges being authorised against a man for being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.
At about 7.15pm on March 2021, a car was stopped on the slip road for junction 10, leading to the arrest of Ronaldo Scott and a 52-year-old woman from Ashford.
Scott, 18, of Bennett Road, Stockwell, London, has since been charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine, and possessing a knife in a public place.
He will appear before Canterbury Crown Court on May 10. No charges have been authorised against the woman and she has been released on bail, pending further inquiries.
In Canterbury, a man and woman from London - Ta-Shan Thompson Campbell and Agata Lakatus - were stopped on Rheims Way on February 12.
'My officers will now set their sights on those attempting to fill the void left by these dealers in an effort to disrupt the supply...'
Both aged 24, they are charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin and possession of criminal property.
The pair appeared before Canterbury Crown Court last month, where Thompson-Campbell admitted the charges against him and Lakatus entered a not guilty plea. The next hearing is scheduled for June 1.
