County lines phone holder jailed over Norwich drug dealing

Herbie Madina, 31, had been sending out the texts to offer cocaine and heroin for sale to users living in Norwich.

It was part of his role as a phone holder - someone who is responsible for overseeing drug dealing by the group's main mobile phone - for the so called 'Danny' line.

King's Lynn Crown Court heard Madina was sending messages to drug users from a handset found when he was arrested by police at his address in London.

King's Lynn Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)Police searched the address and as well as mobile phones found cocaine, said to be part of Madina's stock.

The devices were examined and showed links between London and Norwich with a total of 3,162 bulk messages sent to drug users in the "Norwich area".

During the search a greetings card with the name Danny - the name of the drugs line - was also found.

Madina, from Sydney Road, London, appeared at court on Friday (September 13) after previously admitting being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine between June and December 2023.

Herbie Madina (Image: Norfolk Police) The court heard it was Madina's third conviction for class A drug dealing offences meaning he was a three striker which left him facing a mandatory minimum seven-year jail term.

Andrew Copeland, mitigating, said Madina deserved credit for his guilty pleas.

Recorder Stephen Rouse said the "misery" that class A drug dealing "causes to users and their families can't be overstated".

He said Madina played a "significant role" in the operation but acknowledged he deserved credit for his pleas and imposed a sentence of five years and 11 months imprisonment.