Homerton county lines drug dealer jailed for three years after ‘cuckooing’ home in Essex village

A county lines drug dealer from Homerton who “cuckooed” the home of a vulnerable person in an Essex village to sell heroin and crack cocaine has been jailed for three years.

Akeem Abiola, 20, of Hedgers Grove, was caught by gang police patrolling the ancient parish of Laindon in Basildon.

Officers saw a group of men entering a house and when they checked a car parked outside found it was linked to a knife-point robbery in London.

When they entered the home they found it had been taken over by dealers and found a sword, a combat knife, an imitation pump-action shotgun, imitation shotgun shells on a belt, £565 in cash and two phones. They also seized six wraps of crack and one of heroin.

Abiola admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs at Basildon Crown Court on Friday and was sentenced this week.

Investigating officer PC Adam Blackwell of Operation Raptor, which targets county lines dealers, said: “Abiola was a key player in the county line, supplying Class A drugs on the streets of Basildon.

“And, like many drug dealers, he preyed on a vulnerable adult, cuckooing their home to use it as a drug dealing base.”