County Lines drug gang in Kent jailed for total of 65 years

Credit: Kent Police

Eleven people who conspired to supply cocaine across North Kent have been jailed for a total of over 65 years.

The gang formed part of the self-styled ‘Dave’ county line, which was managed by offenders based in Gravesend and Dartford but supplied the substances primarily in Southend, Essex.

They operated between February and August 2019 and, prior to being arrested, had an estimated annual turnover in excess of £1.5 million.

They used a single phone number to interact with customers.

Kent Police says the phone typically sent or received more than 750 calls or texts a day and as much as £80 was spent each day on top up vouchers.

  • Watch: Body camera footage shows officers at a property in Dartford, where half a kilo of cocaine and cash was seized

Officers also managed to seize 80 wraps of cocaine from an address in Southend on 27 February 2019, along with £6,750 in cash seized from a car that was stopped by Essex Police on the London-bound A13.

The following offenders pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply cocaine.

  • Jetmir Cenaj, 21, of Spring Vale North, Dartford, was sentenced to 12 years and six months.

  • Aretur Gashi, 30, of College Road, Gravesend, was sentenced to 10 years and six months.

  • Elidon Haxhaij, 22, of Fulwell Park Avenue, Twickenham, was sentenced to 10 years.

  • Mohammed Rashid, 27, of Ingestre Road, Kentish Town, was sentenced to nine years. He previously pleaded not guilty.

  • A 17-year-old boy of no fixed address was sentenced to three years. He previously pleaded not guilty.

  • Sali Veshi, 26, of Roberts Road, Walthamstow, was sentenced to six years. He previously pleaded not guilty.

  • Timothy Challis, 47, of Burdett Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea, was sentenced to four years and eight months.

  • Edison Shahu, 28, of Longbridge Road, Barking, was sentenced to four years and eight months.

  • Albes Tocilla, 24, of Harts Lane, Barking, was sentenced to four years and eight months.

  • Nathan Ndaba, 20, of Stromness Road, Southend, was sentenced to two years and eight months.

  • Raymond Healy, 33, of Grand Drive, Leigh-on-Sea, was sentenced to one year and two months.