East London Drug Dealer Busted With 1kg of Cocaine, Jailed for Three Years
A Kent man was caught red-handed with a kilo of pure cocaine more than 60 miles from his home – and now he’s behind bars.
Gavin Hills Nabbed in Rainham
Gavin Hills, 50, from Folkestone, Kent, was stopped by officers in New Road, Rainham at 8.05am on 7 November. The Organised Crime Partnership (OCP), made up of the Met Police and National Crime Agency, led the intelligence-led stop.
Officers found a suspicious bag beneath the front passenger seat containing a block of cocaine wrapped in plastic. An envelope on the passenger seat had a Rainham postcode, close to where Hills was arrested – but miles away from his home base in Folkestone.
Drugs and Paraphernalia Found at Home
Hills was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply. A subsequent search of his Folkestone flat uncovered two kilograms of illegal drugs in total – 1kg of cocaine and 1kg of amphetamine – plus drug paraphernalia including electronic scales, a knife with drug residue, and containers holding white powder.
Silent but Guilty
Despite refusal to co-operate or explain why he was caught so far from home with drugs, Hills pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 27 April. He admitted possession with intent to supply class A cocaine and class B amphetamine.
Judge sentenced him straight away to three years behind bars.
Police Praise Joint Operation
Detective Inspector Guy Carmichael said:
“This investigation is a great example of joint partnership working which resulted in a drug dealer being put behind bars and two kilograms of drugs being taken off the streets of London, which otherwise could have ruined lives.
Hills refused to engage with officers throughout the investigation and has shown no remorse for his actions. Hills has been given a substantial sentence and I hope this will deter others from the allure of drug dealing. Even during these challenging times, we will continue to target those involved in organised crime and the supply of illegal drugs and we will take robust action against them.”
