Waltham Abbey: Drugs line dismantled and dealer jailed for 45 months

A drugs line selling Class A drugs in the Waltham Abbey area has been dismantled thanks to a comprehensive investigation by officers in our Operation Raptor team.

Daniel Ikumelo, 35, was jailed for a total of 45 months when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on 2 February.

The court was told detectives had established he held the Scott phone line through which the drugs were ordered. He was also believed to be the person delivering the crack cocaine and heroin to his customers.

The detectives traced messages to and from Ikumelo’s phone between 11 February 2024 and 10 October 2025 which clearly indicated he was dealing drugs.

Ikumelo, of Florence Court, Kenninghall Road, Hackney, was arrested when sharp-eyed officers spotted suspicious activity in an alley off Mason Way in Waltham Abbey on 9 October 2025.

Ikumelo was convicted on 7 November 2025 of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and of heroin; acquiring, using or possessing criminal property, namely cash; and possession of a lock knife in a public place.

Two counts of possession of drugs with intent to supply were ordered to lie on file.

The court heard Ikumelo and a vehicle he had been driving were searched and officers from Raptor and the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) seized heroin, crack cocaine, £300 cash, digital scales, a burner phone, a lock knife and other items associated with drug preparation and supply.

A follow-up search by Raptor and ERSOU officers of a three-storey house in Barking Riverside which was connected to Ikumelo led to the seizure of more heroin and crack cocaine, £25,000, a £5,500 diamond ring and other jewellery, more digital scales, three passports in his name, various bank cards, two burner phones and a black flick knife.

Altogether, detectives seized £40,000 of drugs, cash and jewellery. They estimated the drugs line had earned more than £80,000 in the seven months before Ikumelo’s arrest. The value of the house in Barking was also inconsistent with his known legitimate income.

Investigating officer PC James Shram said after the case:

“Organised crime groups have no place in Essex and we’re working hard to track down their members, arrest them and ensure they face consequences for their crimes.
“Ikumelo thought he was making a comfortable lifestyle through selling drugs but now faces the complete opposite in prison.”

He added that the initial stop and search had played a part in dismantling a significant source of drug supply in west Essex.

“We use stop and search where we have reason to believe someone is in possession of drugs, weapons or stolen property. In many cases, stop and search prevents the need for an arrest but where we find evidence of wrongdoing, we can detain the suspect and investigate further.”

As Operation Raptor, our dedicated drug enforcement teams work around the clock to tackle county lines gangs, which bring harmful drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine into Essex from elsewhere, fuelling violent crime and exploitation.

ERSOU is dedicated to tackling serious organised crime across the East of England.

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.

We know the idea of a stop and search can feel intimidating and inconvenient. But to keep our communities safe from serious harm, particularly crimes involving drugs and weapons, it’s important we have the power to stop and search people.

For more information about what happens when you are stopped and searched by a police officer, your rights and where you can leave feedback, please go to our we value our communities page.