Three dealers who ran a county lines network distributing crack and heroin throughout Gravesend have been jailed for a total of ten years.

Prince Okachukwu, 23, of Salmon Road, Belvedere was controlling the operation, while Luther Parker, 20, of Kentlea Road, Thamesmead and Che Williams, 19, of Newmarsh Road, Thamesmead acted as runners for him.

In 2019, Kent police began an investigation into the network, known as the Frank Line.

On May 29 officers checking on a vulnerable adult found Parker at an address in possession of crack cocaine, heroin, cannabis, over £400 and a mobile phone.

A few weeks later plain clothed patrols witnessed a suspected drug deal taking place near York Road.

Subsequent enquiries led to Williams being discovered in a nearby address where officers seized two mobile phones, £140 and a package of crack cocaine and heroin.

Following the arrests of Parker and Williams, mobile phone data led investigators to Okachukwu who was orchestrating the network from his home, who was arrested at an address in Woolwich on July 17.

Okachukwu and Williams pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply class crack cocaine and heroin.

Parker denied the charges but was found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court. All were sentenced on Friday February 7.

Officer in charge of the case, Detective Constable Terry Hanlon said: "The Frank line was operating across Gravesend with Okachukwu leading the dealing and Parker and Williams running the drugs for him.

"The trio had complete disregard for the vulnerable in the community, with Parker cuckooing the address of a disabled person in order to use it as a base to sell drugs.

"A complex investigation led to officers being able to breakdown the network, putting a stop to the despicable behaviour of these three men and taking more dealers of the streets of Gravesham."