Southend: Dealers jailed for guest house as drug base

Justice Oyedokun, 22, and Deviston Francis, 21, were part of the "Shadow" drug line, transporting Class A drugs from London to Southend.

The pair were caught on May 21, 2024, when officers from the Operation Raptor unit, dedicated to tackling county lines drug dealing, spotted a large group of people near an alleyway in Southend.

The officers observed Francis leaving a nearby guest house and heading towards the group.

Due to suspicions of drug dealing in the area, officers stopped and searched Francis under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Jailed - Justice Oyedokun (Image: Essex Police)

They found a small plastic pot containing 40 wraps of Class A drugs.

Francis tried to convince officers the substance was "sugar" and claimed he was an "entrepreneur."

A phone, which was continuously ringing, was also seized alongside a sum of cash.

The guest house was subsequently searched, leading to the detention of Oyedokun inside.

Further quantities of Class A drugs and cash totalling £1,825 were seized from the property.

Jailed - Deviston Francis (Image: Essex Police)

Oyedokun, of no fixed address, admitted possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin and possessing criminal property.

Francis, of no fixed address, admitted possession with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

Both appeared at Basildon Crown Court on September 20, where each were jailed for two years and eight months.

Temporary Det Sgt Rob Maile, of Op Raptor South, said: “Our investigation established the two runners, both from outside Essex, had stayed in a guest house in the area for the purposes of supplying crack cocaine and heroin in Southend.

“This is one of the emerging tactics we are seeing drugs gangs employ.

“But as this case proves, it is a tactic with little value, as it places no limits on our ability to trace, monitor and carry out enforcement against those we know to be involved in Class A drug supply.

“Drug dealers have very little room for manoeuvre in Essex.

“My team see, all too often, the harm these substances cause and the violence which stems from this awful trade.

“We are more active than ever in building cases against the drug lines running these substances from London into our county.

“I would also call on those who own and run guest houses or holiday homes to take steps, as best they can, to be aware of the activity being perpetrated at their properties.”