Man jailed for County Lines drug dealing in Brighton
The court heard how he travelled from his home in London last June and July and would offer heroin for sale
A County Lines drug-dealer was arrested just three weeks after he started distributing illegal substances in Brighton.
Ermir Murataj frequently travelled from his home in Goldbeaters Grove, London, to the Sussex coast throughout June and July 2023, where he would offer heroin for sale.
He was arrested after a Misuse of Drugs Act warrant was executed at his address on 13 October.
A number of mobile devices were seized, and expert analysis revealed the Jimmy drug line phones he operated were completely inactive while he was in London; they became heavily active whenever he travelled to Brighton, when he would send out bulk messages to vulnerable users.
The 35-year-old was charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin.
He denied the offence and the case went to trial, where a jury returned a guilty verdict.
At Lewes Crown Court on 17 May, Murataj was sentenced to three-and-a-half years’ imprisonment.