Drug dealer who paid for lavish holidays with illegal earnings sentenced to nine years in prison

The 30-year-old ran a county lines drugs operation supplying crack cocaine and heroin to the seaside town of Southend.

His arrest was the culmination of a detailed investigation by Operation Raptor detectives at Essex police.

The ‘Frankie’ drug line used 10 different mobile numbers to send out messages advertising the sale of Class A drugs, and is estimated to have made sales worth close to £200,000 over a just four months.

During his time running the drug line, and without any other plausible source of income, Miah splashed out on multiple expensive holidays to Paris, Menorca, Amsterdam and Turkey.

They were paid for from a business bank account and personal accounts, set up under a fake car hire business.

Using these accounts, he personally took in more than £30,000 in criminal profit.

The day before his arrest, Miah was sunning himself on a privately chartered boat in Turkey – sending out boastful pictures to one of his drug runners back in the UK.

When officers arrested him on his return from Turkey, he was carrying his ‘Frankie’ drug line phone with him.

A search of his home in Rochford, seized evidence including more than £3,000 in cash from a safe found at the property. Drugs were also recovered by officers.

Miah was charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine and possessing criminal property.

He pleaded not guilty to the drugs charges, but it took at jury at Basildon Crown Court just one hour and forty minutes to return guilty verdicts on all charges.

Appearing for sentence at the same court, Miah’s barrister said his client made “a dishonest gamble to keep his family together” by denying the charges.

He was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment.

Detective Sergeant Rob Maile, attached to Operation Raptor, said: “Miah filtered in excess of £30,000 through various bank accounts, money we know was a result of Class A drug dealing.

“He was distanced from the harsh reality of crack cocaine and heroin use, which brings associated anti-social behaviour impacting our communities and a disastrous impact on the lives of those addicted to these substances.

“Instead, he used the profits of this drug line to fund holidays to Paris, Menorca, Amsterdam and Turkey – all within a four-month period.

“Unlike those impacted, devastatingly, by the trade of the drugs he sold, he lived beyond his means – directing the runners on the streets in Southend. Others took the risk, for little of the reward.

“Miah had runners deposit cash into his bank accounts whilst he was on holiday, which he then used for further expensive purchases."

Essex police is now pursuing a Serious Crime Prevention Order against Miah, which which the force says will significantly restrict his ability to reoffend on his release.

Proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act are also underway to recover as much of his criminal proceeds as possible.