A key member of Thanet’s county lines drug operation has been jailed for more than five years.
Officers investigating the so-called ‘Larry’ line identified a house in Westbrook Road, Margate as a hub of drug dealing in the district.
Entering the property on Wednesday 25 June, officers arrested Joel Loba on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs and seized three phones, £1,360 cash and class A substances hidden on his person.
Investigations had previously identified three phone numbers which sent out bulk marketing messages to known class A drug users in the Margate area. All three of these numbers were proven to be linked to Loba, including one of those phones being seized during the house search.
The 27 year old, from Westbrook Road, was charged with being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, namely crack cocaine and heroin, possession with intent to supply a controlled drug and possession of criminal property.
Loba pleaded guilty to all five charges during a court hearing at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday 14 August. He was sentenced at the same court on Thursday 11 September to five years and seven months.
Investigating officer 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.”
Not long enough
Joel Loba – a local man then?
Only 5 years, out in just over 2 to start up again? Not enough.jail time.
If he lives in the area he’s local, surely?
Not at all.
More likely a recent import to the area, probably from London or even landed from a rubber dinghy, Who knows?
Living in the area does not make anybody ‘a local’ at all. Try moving into a Cornish fishing village and see hoe many decades it takes you to be accepted as a local, if ever!
thinly veiled racism is still racism, ton. You could’ve just as easily commented on the crime instead of showing this audience you’re a bigot.
The usual ‘racism’ chant from the loony leftie I note, Quelle surprise., nothing original to say.
Whatever you do say, I can guarantee you he is not a local lad but has moved to the area recently. Simples.