Maidstone dealer jailed after trading drugs for Pokémon cards

A cocaine dealer from Maidstone who asked substance users to pay off drug debts by stealing collectible Pokémon cards has been jailed.

Jack Young-Larter, who filmed himself stashing drugs for customers, has now been sentenced to 3 years and 4 months’ imprisonment and ordered to give up his trading card collection.

On Friday 1 May 2026, officers investigating the supply of cocaine and cannabis in Maidstone carried out a search warrant at Young-Larter’s home address.

Officers immediately detained him and quickly seized two mobile phones, nearly 110g of cannabis and more than 25g of cocaine, alongside scales and empty deal bags.

Also, within the property was around £2,000 in cash and a box of rare collectible cards, considered to be of high monetary value.

These items were seized and are now subject to a Deprivation Order, ensuring the items will not be returned.

Subsequent reviews of Young-Larter’s devices uncovered messages consistent with the marketing and onward supply of cocaine and cannabis. This included videos of himself stashing packets of drugs for customers to collect.

The messages also showed reference to payments from customers via cash, bank transfers and by means of Pokémon trading cards.

Charged

He was charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine, being concerned in the supply of cannabis, and for possession of criminal property, namely the cash and trading cards.

The 26 year old, of London Road, pleaded guilty to all counts and appeared before Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday 17 September to be sentenced.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Emily Hill, said:

‘Young-Larter is rightly serving time behind bars for selfishly taking advantage of vulnerable members of the Maidstone community for his own financial gain. ‘He attempted to mitigate his crime at court, claiming family commitments should be taken into account. The judge refused to accept this as reasonable argument and point blankly expressed that his family must be so disappointed in him. ‘Trading Pokémon cards is a fun activity for all ages, but substances are dangerous; they destroy communities, and – in the worst cases – leave friends and families bereft. ‘So, when it comes to those dealing drugs on Kent's streets, our officers are on a mission to catch them all.’