Medway county lines drug dealer jailed

A key member of a Medway county lines drug operation has been jailed for more than five years.

Ethan Reader first came to officers’ attention in October 2025 when a car was spotted acting suspiciously in the Chatham area. The vehicle was stopped and Reader fled on foot.

Dealing

He was quickly detained and a search of the car located multiple bags containing crack cocaine, heroin and a large knife.

A mobile phone was also seized and quickly identified as the ‘Bill Line’ which had been used to send out bulk marketing messages to known class A drug users in the Medway and Gravesend area.

Enquiries found the number was registered to Reader and as the investigation progressed, he was arrested two more times on suspicion of drug dealing.

Court

The 29-year-old, of no fixed address, was charged with being concerned in the supply of drugs namely cannabis, crack cocaine, cocaine, and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

Reader pleaded guilty to all five charges during a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court. He was sentenced at the same court on Thursday 9 July to five years and seven months in prison.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Scott Kitchener said:

‘Drugs destroy lives and have a negative impact on the communities affected. This case demonstrates once again our commitment to tackling a small minority of drug dealers who target users with bulk texts and think they can remain anonymous. ‘Reader played a pivotal role in distributing the most harmful drugs across the Medway and north Kent, and despite repeated arrests he has continued to offend. ‘With relentless enforcement and persistent investigation; it has led to a custodial sentence that serves as a warning to anyone considering entering the drug trade.’