Six men jailed for dealing drugs between Swindon and Kent
Their drugs supply chain was dismantled following a routine stop and search in Tonbridge.
Six members of a criminal gang have been sentenced to a total of 20 years’ imprisonment for dealing drugs between Swindon and Kent.
Their drugs supply chain was dismantled following a routine stop and search in Tonbridge.
The men all occupied roles in a cocaine network, spanning from the south-west of England into areas which also included Tunbridge Wells.
On 6 February 2024, proactive patrols initially stopped a vehicle linked to suspicious activity in The Ridgeway, Tonbridge.
A search led to the seizure of four bags of cocaine, mobile phones and the arrest of the driver, Cosmin Vlas.
Just over a month later, on 14 March, Georgi Dimitrov was stopped in Quarry Hill Road, where officers recovered 10 bags of cocaine concealed within an internal light fixture.
All six men were charged and went on to plead guilty to being concerned in the supply cocaine.
On 27 January 2025, Bardhoshi, 24, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court to five years and nine months’ imprisonment.
Vlas, 34, of London Road, Grays, Essex and Mola, 22, of Jackwood Way, Tunbridge Wells were each sentenced to three years and five months.
Sabre Arnaut, 27, of Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells was jailed for two years and nine months.
Sait Arnaut, 24, of Goods Station Road, Tunbridge Wells and Dimitrov, 25, of Maidstone Road, north London each received two years and seven months.
Detective Sergeant Rob Hemsley said: "Drug use, including cocaine, is seen by some as a victimless crime but there is an impact on users and the wider community and every purchase funds organised criminality. It is estimated this gang made around £7,000 a week during the 13 weeks they were under investigation, meaning the criminals’ pockets had been lined with almost £100,000.‘This latest result is another example of our ongoing work to ensure drug networks are disrupted and dismantled. As well as robust enforcement to target and disrupt dealers, we will be stopping known users, who are buying cocaine from these lines, for drug wipe procedures and searches.'We will also be notifying partner agencies such as social services, the DVLA, as well as employers of identified users who are working in a notifiable occupation."