A drug dealer who was stopped by police whilst in Watford has been jailed for four years.

Deshaun Campbell-Ngonga, 19, of no fixed address, was stopped by officers from the Watford Scorpion team on May 30 this year, after he was spotted acting suspiciously in Queens Road.

Officers seized a mobile phone during the search, which was later found to be associated with a county line drug network operating in Watford.

Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Operation Mantis team conducted further enquiries and identified an address in north London, used by Campbell-Ngonga.

On July 11, the London address was raided whilst Campbell-Ngonga was inside and another mobile phone, linked to a county line that was operating in Basingstoke, was seized.

Officers also found a quantity of cannabis and 10 grams of a cutting agent, known to be used with crack cocaine and heroin.

Campbell-Ngonga was arrested and charged with supplying or offering to supply a controlled drug and remanded into custody.

Campbell-Ngonga appeared at St Albans Crown Court on November 5, where he plead guilty and was sentenced to four years in prison.

Detective Constable Chris Duncan from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Operation Mantis Team said: "This was a great piece of detective work, from the initial stop and search of the offender, which identified his links to county lines, to the subsequent investigation and arrest. It will send a message to criminals who are exporting drugs and violent crime into our communities that they will be arrested and jailed.

"We have made many significant arrests and our continuing operations are having an impact on the county lines networks operating in Hertfordshire, and we will continue to disrupt gang activities and stop the supply of drugs into our towns."

Call 101 or visit herts.police.uk/report if you suspect you area is being used for criminal activity or you know someone who is being exploited or cuckooed. You can also visit fearless.org

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111.