Hastings Drug Dealer Jailed

Wednesday, 10 August 2022 07:11

A Hastings man who was involved in the supply of cocaine has been jailed for almost six years.

Samuel Mills, 29, was identified as being part of a 'county lines' drug operation between London and Hastings.

In a police 'day of action' in May (2022) where multiple arrests were made, Mills' name was found on a phone being used to supply cocaine..

Officers established Mills had left the country in May and travelled to France. Further enquiries later found a last-minute flight booked from Geneva to Gatwick Airport, where Mills was arrested upon exiting the plane on June 1.

The phone line provided a high volume of evidence linking Mills to the drug supply and he was charged with dealing cocaine.

Mills, of Braybrooke Road in Hastings, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years and nine months’ imprisonment when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, August 5.

PC Ross Sandiford said:

“Although Mills wasn’t arrested as part of our initial operation, extensive phone analysis carried out by officers later identified his involvement in the supply of Class A drugs and we quickly sought to bring him into custody.

“The sentence he’s been given reflects the severity of the crime, and the dangerous impact Class A drugs can have on a person and the wider community.

“This is yet another positive outcome which highlights our determination to disrupt the supply and distribution of harmful drugs in East Sussex. We continue to work closely with partner agencies and other police forces to crack down and put pressure on those who choose to deal drugs in our villages, towns and cities.”

Sussex Police, supported by London’s Metropolitan Police and Surrey Police, led the execution of 19 drugs warrants on May 4, 2022 resulting in 18 arrests for drugs offences.

Some 5,000 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin were seized during the raids, as well as 7kg of cocaine, 2kg of heroin and £300,000 in cash.