County Lines Crackdown: 18 Arrests and £35,000 Seized in Major Drug Busts
Drug Gang Figures Sentenced
The fight against county lines drug trafficking in Kent has dealt a heavy blow to organised crime. In May 2022 alone, police made 18 arrests, secured 18 charges, recovered 10 weapons, and confiscated a staggering £35,000 in suspected criminal cash.
One key bust saw Courtney Cann, part of the notorious ‘Mikey’ line smuggling heroin and crack cocaine from London to Thanet, locked up for four years and one month.
How Police Cracked the ‘Mikey’ Line
County Lines and Gangs Team officers unearthed a mobile phone linked to the Mikey line’s drug deals across Margate earlier that year. By cross-referencing drug drop-offs with train timetables, they tracked Cann on CCTV using the phone during transit.
He was arrested on March 11 in Margate and charged with heroin and crack supply. The 28-year-old from Catford subsequently pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court.
More County Lines Members Face Justice
- Aaron Clark, 26, homeless, hit with charges over crack and heroin supply tied to the ‘Koby’ line in Medway.
- Jannai Johnson, 25, from Aylesford, charged with supply and possession with intent involving crack and heroin linked to the ‘Ritchie’ line operating in Aylesford and Ramsgate.
- A 42-year-old woman, a 40-year-old woman, and a 17-year-old boy connected to the ‘Milo’ line in Ramsgate were arrested and released on bail.
Kent Police Vow to Keep the Pressure On
“Those involved in county lines are often tied to violent and acquisitive crimes across Kent. We are determined to disrupt these gangs at every turn,” said Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Talboys, County Lines and Gangs Team.
The meticulous police work behind Cann’s arrest shows how law enforcement is closing in on dealers to make Kent’s streets safer and protect families from the devastation caused by drugs.
