Kent: Dealer jailed after guns and £500k of drugs found

Police found designer watches, CS spray and a knuckleduster at David Allen's home

A 54-year-old man found with two firearms and a stockpile of illegal drugs in rural Kent has been jailed.

David Allen was sentenced to six years at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday.

More than 60 kilos of amphetamine, a kilo of cocaine, and two guns were found in a container Allen had the keys to.

Det Insp Stacey Chapman said the weapons showed that violence "goes hand in hand with drug dealing".

Officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate carried out a warrant at an industrial estate near Bethersden on 27 July 2023.

Allen, of Green Lane, Marden, was arrested as he arrived at the site in his van and officers found the drugs, which they estimate had a street value of £500,000, in a container.

Two small guns, which Allen originally claimed were antiques but were found to be viable, and £70,000 cash was also found, along with drug packaging, money counting machines, needles, syringes, and a purity test for cocaine.

The drugs had an estimated street value of £500,000

Police also seized 25 designer watches, ledgers recording deals, a CS spray and a knuckleduster from Allen's home nearby.

Allen admitted a charge of possessing amphetamine and cocaine with intent to supply, two charges of possession of a prohibited firearm, one charge of possession of a weapon for the discharge of noxious liquid, and one charge of possessing criminal property.

Det Insp Chapman said the drugs would have "profited criminal networks" and led to further crime.

She said: "The weapons we found illustrate all to clearly the violence, or threat of violence, which goes hand in hand with drug dealing, and I am pleased those weapons have been taken off the streets.

"I urge anyone thinking of taking the course chosen by Allen, and joining a criminal group, to think again."

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