In October 2023, investigators from Kent Police’s County Lines and Gangs Team learned that a drug dealer was travelling from Penge to Swanley to supply cocaine and heroin.
The team identified the supplier as Ricardo Cain and that he used a specific phone number to send marketing texts offering class A drugs to local users.
On 23 October, the officers found the dealer had travelled to Swanley and suspected he was dealing drugs from the home of a vulnerable person.
&w=1024&h=552&scale=both&mode=max)
Police arrived at the address and, after forcing entry, found Cain inside with £250 in cash. As the officers entered, he threw seven deals of heroin and 49 wraps of crack cocaine out of a window. These were immediately recovered by a constable who was waiting at the rear of the premises.
He was arrested and taken into custody. The drugs were later analysed and found to have an estimated street value of between £500 and £1,120.
On the following day, Cain, of no fixed address, was charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and being concerned in the supply of heroin.
Cain, who was already on licence for a drug dealing offence at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court. On Tuesday 28 November, the 24-year-old was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
Detective Sergeant James Arnold said:
‘This criminal thought he could safely deal class A drugs while secreting himself in a vulnerable person’s home. He was mistaken and was tracked down by investigators intent of bringing him to justice.
‘Those who consider following his example and travel into Kent to deal cocaine and heroin, will be swiftly identified. They will then receive an early morning visit from one of our enforcement teams.’