County Lines Kingpin Joel Loba Jailed for Over Five Years
A major player in Thanet’s county lines drug racket has been locked up for more than five years. Joel Loba, 27, was handed a hefty 5 years and 7 months sentence after pleading guilty to multiple serious offences.
Crackdown on Westbrook Road’s Drug Hub
Police cracked the ‘Larry’ line operation when they zeroed in on a Westbrook Road property in Margate as a key drug-dealing base. On Wednesday, 25 June 2025, officers swooped and arrested Loba at the scene. They found three phones, £1,360 in cash, and a stash of class A drugs on him.
Digital Evidence Links Loba to Bulk Drug Messaging
Detectives uncovered that three phone numbers used for bombarding known class A users with bulk texts all traced back to Loba. One of these phones was seized during the raid. Charged with supply of crack cocaine and heroin, possession with intent to supply, and criminal property offences, Loba admitted all five charges at Canterbury Crown Court on 14 August 2025.
Justice Served – Loba Locked Up
On 11 September 2025, Loba was sentenced to 5 years and 7 months behind bars for his role in flooding Thanet’s streets with dangerous drugs.
Detective Constable Holly Bayliss said: “Drugs destroy lives and have a negative impact on the communities affected. Joel Loba played a pivotal role in distributing the most harmful drugs across the Thanet area, so we are very pleased he will see significant time behind bars.”
