Three county line drug dealers have been sentenced to prison for supplying heroin and cocaine across Maidstone and other towns in West Kent.
Kent Police’s County Line and Gang Team successfully cracked the case after identifying a specific phone linked to a criminal gang distributing Class A drugs in late 2019. The gang, known as the ‘Benny Line’, sent marketing texts to drug users offering heroin and cocaine. Customers would then place orders by texting back to arrange deliveries.
Between October 15 and December 9, 2019, Dale Percy (34), Ben Roberts (39), and a 17-year-old youth managed the phone and organised regular drug runs. Investigators found evidence that the gang also transported drugs to other locations, including Brighton in East Sussex.
The teenage dealer was arrested by Kent Police in south London on December 9, 2019. Percy, from Hayle Road, Maidstone, was arrested the same day. Roberts, from Nursery Road, Aylesford, was apprehended on December 11.
All three later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine at Maidstone Crown Court. On November 5, Percy was sentenced to three years in prison. Roberts received a sentence of three years and one month. The 17-year-old was sent to a young offenders institution for two years and seven months.
Detective Inspector Matt Talboys condemned the criminals, stating: “These dealers bring misery to the streets of Kent. We’ll keep hunting down anyone trying to peddle Class A drugs.”
He added, “Using mobile phones and fake names won’t save them – we catch them every time and bring them swiftly to justice.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
