Jail sentence for prolific drug dealer

A nationwide drug dealer based in Canterbury has been jailed following a proactive stop by local officers.

On 9 August 2025, officers from Canterbury’s Neighbourhood Task Force were on duty when they identified a vehicle of interest on Military Road. The car matched a recent intelligence report, linking the owner to the supply of drugs.

When stopped, Mario Neto denied having any drugs in the vehicle, alongside denying that the vehicle was registered under his name. However, a search at the roadside uncovered £610 in cash, 48 small bags of white powder later confirmed as cocaine, and a baseball bat.

Investigation

Multiple mobile phones were also seized during his arrest, and a detailed review revealed messages strongly indicating drug dealing activity. Thousands of messages between 1 May and 7 June 2025 were recovered, including slang references such as ‘white snowflake’ and the repeated use of the snowflake emoji, believed to refer to cocaine.

Neto was remanded in custody and later charged with possession of Class A drugs, being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, and possession of an offensive weapon.

Nationwide 

Following an extensive investigation officers uncovered that Neto’s dealing went beyond Kent. Neto, a Brazilian national, was operating from Canterbury and ran a coordinated network of delivery drivers across the country.

He denied all charges initially, but after his second court hearing, he changed his pleas to guilty. On Thursday 5 February 2026, Neto, of Sussex Avenue, Canterbury, was sentenced to three years and two months in prison.

Detective Constable Megan Best said:

‘I welcome the sentence passed by the court and want to commend the Neighbourhood Task Force officers, whose swift decisions and strong local knowledge were instrumental in bringing this offender to justice.  ‘The outcome of this case sends a clear message to anyone dealing drugs in Kent: your luck will eventually run out, you will be caught, and you will be held to account.'