Drug Dealer Nabbed at Colchester Station
A 21-year-old man was slammed with a three-year jail sentence after being caught red-handed with a stash of heroin and cannabis in a slick British Transport Police (BTP) operation.
County Lines Crackdown Leads to Arrest
Brandon French, from St Mary’s Road, Hastings, was stopped by plain clothes officers from BTP’s County Lines Taskforce at Colchester railway station in January. During the January 23 raid, French tried to hide his face by pulling his hood up, but couldn’t dodge the keen noses of officers who smelt cannabis on him instantly.
A swift search found 15 wraps of heroin and 17 grams of cannabis hidden on his person, alongside a burner phone used to run his illegal drug business.
Guilty Plea and Hard-Hitting Sentence
French pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and cannabis at Colchester Magistrates’ Court. On March 14, Ipswich Crown Court handed down his 36-month prison sentence.
“The custodial sentence French has received is reflective of his serial county lines offending,” said Detective Inspector Matt Davies. “I hope he spends his time behind bars reconsidering his illegal business interests.”
“Our plain clothes officers patrol the railways daily to catch drug suppliers like French. If you use the network to move drugs, know this — we’ll catch you and make sure you face justice.”
