Southend: Third strike drug dealer jailed

A dealer caught supplying drugs in the Southend area has been jailed thanks to an investigation by our dedicated Op Raptor officers.

Bob Kiskidi, 24, was sentenced to six years imprisonment at Basildon Crown Court on Monday 11 March.

The sentence followed an investigation by our dedicated drugs officers, Op Raptor South, which dismantle and disrupt county lines gangs operating in south Essex.

These enquiries focused on the ‘Top’ line, which was active in Southend supplying crack cocaine and heroin to users between November 2022 and September 2023.

Officers uncovered bulk marketing messages sent out through phones attributed to Kiskidi, of Bedford Road, Ilford, advertising both substances for sale.

This work resulted in a warrant being executed at addresses in Westcliff and Ilford on 3 October last year.

At the Westcliff address, officers recovered two devices used by the drug line, £600 in cash, a number of wraps and a pack of suspected Class A drugs.

Officers also found a list of numbers attributed to Class A drug users in the area, as well as paraphernalia indicating the preparation and storing of drugs.

At the Ilford address, Kiskidi was arrested and found alongside wraps of crack cocaine and heroin, £3,000 in cash and high-value shoes.

He was charged with and admitted being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

'Our work continues'

Detective Sergeant Rob Maile, of Op Raptor South, said:

“We know all too well the issues drug dealing causes for law-abiding members of the community in Southend, which is why we work very hard as a team to tackle this issue.
“We are solely focussed on dismantling the gangs and operations which work to bring Class A drugs to towns like Southend.
“This was Kiskidi’s third conviction for drug dealing matters and he will rightly spend a considerable term behind bars for his offending.”

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