A drug courier has been jailed for more than nine years after drugs with a street value of more than £1 million was discovered at his home.

Officers executed a warrant at an address in Great Oxcroft, Laindon at around 3.30pm on Tuesday, April 10 and uncovered the massive haul in the property.

Temporary Detective Chief Inspr Paul Lopez, from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “Drugs destroy lives, damage communities, and can lead to people being exploited.

“James Nicklen admitted to acting as a go between – picking up drugs from a supplier, cutting them up, and then transporting them to a gang who would then deal them.

“These drugs have a street value of more than £1 million pounds. Nicklen would have seen very little of that because of his role but has now been jailed for more than nine years.

“He’ll now spend a significant period of time behind bars and should ask himself whether it was worth it. The answer is ‘no’.

“I hope this sends the message that we won’t tolerate people supplying drugs. If you do supply drugs we will investigate you and you will face a long time in jail.”

During police searches, 24 kilos of Class A drugs, believed to be cocaine, MDMA, and ketamine were discovered in various parts of the property.
24 year-old James Nicklen, of Great Oxcroft, Laindon, was arrested and charged two days later.

At Basildon Crown Court on Thursday, May 17 he pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession with intent to supply MDMA, and possession with intent to supply Ketamine.

He was jailed to a total of nine years and four months in prison.