Man jailed for bringing drugs from London into Brighton and Hove
Police found heroin and crack cocaine at the 21-year-old's home
A drug dealer from London who used county lines networks to run substances into Brighton and Hove has been jailed.
Police seized heroin and crack cocaine, along with more than £5,000 in cash, from Oussama Bouhamidi's home in Westcroft Close in Camden in the early hours of March 2nd.
Officers also found several mobile phones linking the 21-year-old to the 'Frank' and 'Antz' networks, which were used to transport the drugs from the capital to the Sussex coast.
County lines dealing is the sale of drugs from large urban areas, such as London, into smaller towns and cities such as Brighton. Dealers and customers are linked by mobile phone numbers, through which deals are conducted.
The practice is typified by violence and the exploitation of children and vulnerable people, who are often used by the suppliers for their own ends.
Bouhamidi, who was inside the building at the time of the raid, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin).
He was subsequently charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and possession of criminal property and found guilty on all counts at Lewes Crown Court on April 11th.
At the same court last Wednesday (May 3rd), Bouhamidi was sentenced to five years and seven months in prison.
Detective Constable Rachel Piggott of Sussex Police said:
“Oussama Bouhamidi was a committed offender, controlling two separate drug lines that brought dangerous substances into Brighton and Hove.
“Together with our partners in the Metropolitan Police we were able to show a clear connection between Bouhamidi and these hugely harmful drug lines and bring him to justice.
“His imprisonment will make our communities safer, but our commitment to disrupting the illegal drug trade, catching perpetrators and safeguarding vulnerable people remains unwavering.”