Kent Cocaine Gang Busted: Five Jailed After Massive Police Takedown
Five members of a ruthless Kent crime gang have been locked up for running a cocaine empire across the county. The organised group, led by John Horn, 38, of Ramsgate, was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday, 30 January 2025.
Inside the Cocaine Ring
Horn, the kingpin, ran the drug operation in the Thanet area. He recruited fellow Ramsgate man Oliver Eyles, 36, to manage day-to-day dealings. Their network flooded the streets with class A cocaine, pushing the poison through a web of local dealers.
Police Strike Back
Kent Police smashed the gang on 21 March 2024 after a detailed investigation. Officers swooped, seizing huge amounts of cash and drugs. The evidence was clear, and the gang members soon pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply cocaine.
Sentences Handed Down
- John Horn: 6 years 6 months behind bars
- Oliver Eyles: 5 years 6 months in prison
- Joseph Shuttleworth, 35, Ramsgate: 2 years 4 months
- Jason Tse, 41, Westgate: 3 years 10 months
- Christopher Palmer, 34, Ramsgate: 2-year suspended sentence
Detective’s Warning
“Organised crime groups operate like businesses with each member playing a role,” said Detective Constable Nicola Emery, who led the bust. “John Horn thought by keeping his hands clean, he’d dodge justice. Not on our watch. We knew their every move.”
She added, “This conviction is a big win in Kent Police’s fight against class A drug supply. These sentences will keep dangerous criminals off our streets and make our communities safer.”
The crackdown marks a major victory in the battle against organised drug crime in Kent.
