Brighton Drug Kingpin Locked Up for 10 Years
Seyed Mousavian, 42, from Grand Parade, Brighton, has been jailed for ten years at Lewes Crown Court. He was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, sealing his fate on Thursday, 23 March.
Heavily Armed HECTOR County Line Busted
Mousavian is the tenth criminal convicted following a two-year probe into the notorious HECTOR county line, which flooded Brighton and Hove with crack cocaine and heroin. Unlike typical county lines controlled remotely from big cities, HECTOR’s senior gang members operated right here in Sussex, making it easier for police to clamp down on offenders at every level.
Exploiting the Vulnerable for Profit
The gang exploited young and vulnerable people with threats, violence, and intimidation to push drugs on the streets, while bosses stayed safely in charge of the cash flow.
Detective Inspector Dee Wells of Brighton and Hove’s Community Investigations Team said:
“This significant custodial sentence marks another milestone in a long and complex fight against a dangerous drug gang ravaging our community. Their supply of illegal substances spread violence, exploitation, and devastation in our streets. Mousavian’s sentence sends a clear message about our relentless commitment to smashing drug supply in our city and protecting our residents.”
Behind the Scenes of a Massive Drug Bust
Over two years, intensive surveillance, intelligence gathering, and enforcement by Brighton’s Community Investigations Team and the Metropolitan Police led to dozens of arrests and massive drug seizures.
The HECTOR line switched phone numbers four times between 2018 and 2020. Disturbingly, these numbers were found on phones of five individuals who died from drug-related causes during the same period.
Prosecutors presented a strong case against a large network of senior, mid-level, and street dealers, revealing a well-organised conspiracy to flood Sussex with deadly crack cocaine and heroin.
Sentencing Mousavian, HHJ Mooney described him as a “very devious man” who eagerly seized the opportunity to climb the ranks of the HECTOR gang.
