ESSEX Police have celebrated the successful prosecution of drug traffickers and the ending of a supply line in Basildon.

Two men who helped to run the 'Bobby' line between Bexley and Basildon, were sentenced to prison yesterday (Tuesday, 22 June) between them for their involvement in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

Investigations into the 'Bobby' line have been ongoing since early 2020, and culminated with a series of warrants over the summer.

The first was executed at an address in Pitsea on 21 July, which saw 27-year-old Perry Bohm arrested alongside a teenage drug runner at the property.

Officers recovered 26 wraps of heroin and arrested them both.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was later convicted of supplying Class A drugs at an earlier hearing.

Bohm, of no fixed address, was known to officers for previous offences, including robbing an undercover police officer in Basildon in 2013 when he was part of the Bush Boys gang. In 2018, while on licence, he was caught selling cocaine, having cuckooed a vulnerable drug user.

After becoming aware of the line, members of Essex Police's Operation Raptor anti drugs squad had continued to trace the key phone number and worked to recover CCTV from local train stations to track down who was holding the crucial burner phone.

Charlie White, 25, was identified as travelling between Pitsea and Limehouse at the same times as the phone. He was arrested after a warrant was executed at his home address in Melrose Avenue in Crayford on 15 September last year.

On the same day, a warrant was executed at an address linked to White in Bexleyheath. Two SIM cards linked to White, and the drugs line, were recovered.

The pair pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin at Basildon Crown Court in May.

Yesterday, Bohm was sentenced to five years in prison for the offences and White to two years.

Investigating officer, PC Daniel Onley, said: "We won't tolerate people exploiting the vulnerable in our county.

"If you come to Essex to deal drugs, we will find you, we will arrest you and we will prosecute you.

"Every week, Op Raptor teams are dismantling county lines across Essex, and we'll continue to do so to keep you all safe."