Two county line drug dealers have been jailed following an investigation by Kent Police’s County Lines and Gangs Team.
Ashley Morris was jailed for seven years on Wednesday 5 June 2024 following a week-long trial at Winchester Crown Court in which he had denied charges of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin but was found guilty by a jury.
Morris, from Allhallows, was convicted following a lengthy investigation by Kent Police’s County Lines and Gangs Team.
In November 2022, officers became aware of a mobile phone number which was being used to sell crack cocaine and heroin across the Medway towns. Morris, 35, was identified as being in control of the ‘Danny’ line, and on Wednesday 2 March 2023 officers executed a drugs warrant at an address in Stirling Close, Rochester. Morris wasn’t at the address, but police did find £5,000 in cash, a large knife and a mobile phone which was believed to be linked to the drug dealing.
Duane Stevenson, 24, from Gillingham, was arrested inside the property and later charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine, acquiring criminal property and possession of cannabis. He admitted the charges and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on 16 November 2023 and handed a 20-month jail term which was suspended for two years.
As part of the investigation officers stopped a vehicle on Sunday 17 March 2023 in Cuxton Road, Strood. Inside the vehicle was George Bradley who was arrested. Officers also found the mobile phone linked to the drugs line.
Bradley, 30, from Cliffe, was later charged with two counts of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and one count of being concerned in the supply of heroin. He admitted the charges and was sentenced on Saturday 20 April at Maidstone Crown Court, where he was jailed for two years and six months.
Officers continued to try to locate Morris who was actively evading police, and on Tuesday 5 September 2023 he was arrested inside a property in Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, and later charged.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Michael Nolan of Kent Police’s County Lines and Gangs Team said:
‘Morris was responsible for running the ‘Danny’ line which supplied class A drugs to vulnerable people within the Medway towns. He recruited people into the network in order to distance himself from the criminality, but we were able to carry out a thorough investigation and ensure that he faced the consequences of being involved.
‘The team continues to work hard to disrupt and dismantle any drug lines and we are always alert to new lines when they start offering class A drugs for sale, with it only being a matter of time before we identify who is behind the number. We will then ensure they are apprehended and swiftly brought to justice.’