Rapper jailed for supplying Class A drugs in Southend
Officers were able to connect the men to the drug dealing operation partly by using Onuh's music videos - in which he boasted about a life of crime
A London rapper has been jailed for over seven years for his role in a gang which was supplying Class A drugs in Southend and in Dorset.
Jeff Onuh, who performs under the stage name 'VI', has been convicted for his role in the 'Dexter' drug line, along with Chay Maguire-Baker, Kieran McNamara, Leon Frroku and Paul Harding.
The main holder of the durgs line. Dylan Miles, was jailed in July 2021.
Officers were able to connect the men to the drug dealing operation partly by using Onuh's own music videos.
One video appeared to show the gang discussing how to deal Class A drugs, with Frroku, Onuh and Mills all seen handling cash and passing packages to other men.
During the trial Onuh claimed to have no idea what his lyrics meant and also claimed he stole them from other artists.
He was eventually found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs
Those sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday (March 30) included:
- Jeff Onuh, 27, of Peckham Rye, in London was sentenced to seven years and six months in jail for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs
- Chay Maguire-Baker, 27, of Peckham Road, London, was sentenced to seven years and six months in jail for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs
- Kieran McNamara, 23, of Wimborne Road, Bournemouth, was sentenced to two years and eight months in jail for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs
- Paul Harding, 39, of Victoria Road, Southend, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs
- Leon Frroku, 19, of Colne Drive, Shoebury, was sentenced to 21 months in jail, suspended for two years for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs
- Dylan Mills, now 22, of Chinchilla Road, Southend, was handed his sentence last year for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property
Detective Inspector Scott Fitzmaurice, of Essex Police, said:
“We were able to prove beyond any doubt that these men played a variety of roles in supplying Class A drugs into Southend and indeed into Bournemouth.
“The evidence that we were able to collate left the vast majority of them with no other option but to admit their guilt.
“Onuh, however, tried to lie his way out of it. He claimed to have no knowledge of Class A drug supply; he said he stole lyrics for his rap songs from other artists and passed them off as his own; and even more unbelievably, he claimed to be completely unaware of what those lyrics meant.
“Thankfully, the jury in his trial saw through his lies and excuses and found him guilty.”