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Action by the County Line and Gang Team sees 24 people across Kent arrested in February

14:33, 03 March 2021

updated: 14:37, 03 March 2021

A crackdown on county lines drug dealing saw 24 people arrested, 15 weapons taken off the street and more than £20,000 in cash seized in February alone.

It came as a result of action by Kent Police’s County Line and Gang Team.

Watch the moment police stormed an address in Gillingham.

Among those arrested was a 30-year-old man in Maidstone after he reportedly ordered his dog to attack another man on February 9.

Omar Minsende and Daphne Yeo, 27, both of Queen Anne Road, were arrested after police were called to the property following reports a man had been seriously injured by a dog.

After a search both were charged in connection to the supply of class A drugs. Mr Minsende was also charged with GBH with intent.

They appeared before Medway Magistrates Court on February 11 and were remanded in custody. They are next due to appear before Maidstone Crown Court on March 11.

Two other men were also charged in connection with supplying crack cocaine and heroin after two simultaneous search warrants at their homes on February 16.

Manish Thapa. Picture: Kent Police
Manish Thapa. Picture: Kent Police

Henry Muggridge, 31, of North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells and Connor Martin, 19, of Thorton Road, Carshalton, both appeared before Medway Magistrates Court on February 17 and will next appear at Maidstone Crown Court on March 17.

A man who was arrested following a warrant in Gillingham has admitted two counts of possessing heroin and cocaine with intent to supply.

Sean Naylor, 26, of no fixed address, was arrested after the team searched the place he was staying on February 2.

They found more than 150 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin and he was later charged with drug supply offences.

Appearing before Medway Magistrates Court on February 4 he admitted the charges and has been remanded in custody to appear before Maidstone Crown Court later this year.

"We are dedicated to disrupting the supply of drugs to Kent and bringing those who prey on the vulnerable to justice."

As well as the arrests, the team’s investigations led to a combined total of 11 years in prison sentences.

This includes a man from Gravesend who is now serving two years and four months after he admitted supplying and possessing drugs at Woolwich Crown on February 11.

Manish Thapa, who is 22 and from Ionia Walk, was arrested on March 5 in Milton Road, Gravesend following reports of drug dealing.

When officers arrived, Thapa threw a package on the floor which contained 30 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin.

In an interview he told officers he had not touched the package and claimed he fell asleep and woke to find it on the floor.

Alando McNeish. Picture: Kent Police
Alando McNeish. Picture: Kent Police

However forensic analysis showed this was not the case and he later admitted the offence.

Also beginning a prison sentence is Alando McNeish, who will serve four years after officers found him with class A drugs worth £28,000.

The 27-year-old, of Watersmeet, Chatham, was jailed at Maidstone Crown Court on February 8 after admitting possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

McNeish was charged after he was stopped and searched on December 9 in Luton Road, Chatham. He was found to be in possession of heroin and crack cocaine.

A key to a nearby flat was also seized and when officers carried out a search of the address, they found more evidence linking him to the drugs, as well as scales and a list of names and telephone numbers.

Inspector Martin Williams of the County Line and Gang Team said: "In February the team secured the authorisation for 34 charges to be brought against the 24 people they arrested.

"In addition to this, they seized more than £20,000 in cash from suspected dealers and took 15 weapons off the street.

"We are dedicated to disrupting the supply of drugs to Kent and bringing those who prey on the vulnerable to justice."

To get the latest updates in ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here

Read more: All the latest news from Kent

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