Two men jailed for running Sussex drugs line

Two men have been jailed for running a county lines drugs network that supplied heroin and cocaine across Sussex.

Ibrahim Ali, 20, of Weald Lane, Harrow, was sentenced to five years and three months, while Eric Kalauz, 26, of London Road, Havering, received four years and one month for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

The pair were linked to the so-called “Pokey” drugs line, which used bulk text messages and coded promotions to sell drugs to users in areas including Brighton and Bognor Regis.

An investigation by Sussex Police’s Community Investigation Team, working with the Metropolitan Police, uncovered the operation after tracing a mobile number that was being used to advertise and arrange drug deals.

Officers seized phones and analysed communications which showed that Ali and Kalauz had coordinated the supply and managed the line’s messaging system. Both men were arrested in London and charged following months of intelligence work.

Detective Inspector Gary Jacobs said:

“Our investigation showed the significant drugs operation being run by these men. The group operating the ‘Pokey’ line was supplying Class A drugs which cause so much harm in our communities.

We are pleased that this line has been shut down, and they will both serve significant custodial sentences.”

Police said the sentencing marks another step in tackling the supply of harmful drugs into Sussex through mobile “deal lines”.

Investigators continue to target county lines operations, which often exploit vulnerable people to distribute drugs across the region.

DI Jacobs added that the force remains committed to protecting communities and dismantling the criminal networks behind these supply chains.