'Our work is removing weapons from the streets of Essex'

The recovery of a stun gun from a drug dealer’s home exemplifies the valuable work undertaken by our teams focused on county lines gangs.

Richie Nkundo, 34, ran the ‘CJ’ drug line as a one-man crack cocaine and heroin supply business.

Operation Raptor – our team dedicated to tracing and dismantling such operations – quickly became aware of his illicit activity.

The ‘CJ’ line operated in Harlow between September and December 2024.

Officers were soon on Nkundo’s tail and worked steadily to build a case against him.

This work identified Nkundo, of Great Cambridge Road, Enfield, was utilising an address in Harlow as a base from which to supply the drugs.

In December last year, officers executed a warrant at the address.

Around 30g of crack cocaine and heroin were recovered, valued at around £4,000.

On a kitchen counter inside the property, a stun gun was found, with cartridges for this weapon also recovered from a bedroom.

A number of mobile phones and drug paraphernalia were seized.

Analysis carried out by the team estimated Nkundo was involved in the distribution of at least 594g of Class A drugs, valued at around £59,000.

He went on to admit charges of possessing a prohibited weapon and two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

Nkundo committed the offending despite a previous conviction for drug supply.

Appearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday 3 January, he was sentenced to three years and 10 months’ imprisonment.

'Dangerous in the wrong hands'

Detective Inspector Richard Trower, of Op Raptor West, said:

“Across 2024 we dismantled more than 150 county lines operating in Essex.
“Often when we execute warrants and search the homes of these dealers, we find a wide range of weaponry – from zombie knives and machetes to the more unusual, but still very dangerous, items as seen in this investigation.
“A weapon of this kind which discharges electricity could cause serious injury when in the wrong hands, either through the victim suffering a medical episode or falling and hitting their head.
“Serious violence in Essex is often linked to the activity of these drug dealers. They’re not afraid to carry weapons to enforce and intimidate.
“But it does mean that for every drug network we bring down – and we’re constantly building cases against each line – we take these harmful weapons out of circulation and out of the hands of criminals.
“In this case, Nkundo was operating on his own and we found no other suspects linked to the ‘CJ’ line.
“This is unusual, but his previous convictions tell us he remained a committed drug dealer hoping to make an easy living dealing heroin and crack cocaine.
“He’ll spend a significant time behind bars to reflect on his actions.”

Are you worried that a friend or someone you know may be being exploited through County Lines or organised criminal activity?

Maybe they are returning home late, staying out all night or even going missing for days or weeks at a time.

Are they suddenly being secretive about who they are talking to or where they are going?

Or perhaps you’ve noticed they have large amounts of money on them, or new clothing, jewellery or phones they wouldn’t be able to afford.

Through Fearless, young people can pass on information 100% anonymously to get help.

If you need help from police, call 101 or, if it's an emergency, always call 999.

Keeping people safe is at the heart of what we do.