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.

Ham & High: The weapons found in the house.The weapons found in the house. (Image: Archant)

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.”