Dealer jailed over text message county lines drug supply

A drug dealer has been jailed after admitting his involvement in the supply of crack cocaine as part of a county lines organised crime activity which saw him advertise drugs for sale via text message.

Kash Hussain, aged 21, of Belgrave Road in Dresden, Stoke-on-Trent, was jailed for 40 months yesterday (18 May) at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after admitting being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

The court heard how officers infiltrated Hussain’s phone in March this year and discovered his involvement in a county lines drug operation.

Our experts analysed the phone messages to reveal that Hussain was sending 12 drug advertising messages to up to 92 potential customers each day in the space of a week.

We worked with the phone data supplier to locate Hussain via his device and he was arrested on 23 March in the Normacot area. He was already on probation for a number of drug-related incidents at the time of his arrest.

We also seized a list of names and numbers from Hussain along with £250 in cash.

Hussain was subsequently charged and later admitted the offences in court.

Speaking following sentencing, Sergeant Marc Proctor, of Stoke south harm reduction hub, said: “Hussain is a repeat offender who we had been working with to try and help get his life back on track.

“However, his latest offending shows how he continued to be involved in county lines drug dealing, openly advertising drugs for sale to his contacts repeatedly throughout March.

“I am pleased Hussain admitted his offending and that we were able to prove his blatant involvement in organised drug supply.

“I hope this custodial sentence reminds all those involved in serious criminal activity that we are watching and we will bring you to justice.”

The result comes as the force is working with West Midlands Police and the Regional Organised Crime Unit as part of Operation Target to disrupt serious and organised crime in our region.

For more information on the operation, visit: Major operation to target serious organised crime launched | Staffordshire Police.