‘Ash’ Drug Line Controller Jailed For Over Seven Years

An Eastbourne man has been jailed for running the ‘Ash’ drugs line in Brighton.

Patrick Kargbo, 23, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on 22 July.

Kargbo ran the line by sending hundreds of ‘marketing’ messages to contacts en masse from a single mobile phone.

Between 14 July and 12 December 2025, Kargbo sent over 950 bulk messages advertising for the drug line.

Following months of investigation, police executed a warrant on 9 December 2025 at an address in Ryelands Drive, Brighton.

Officers seized:

• 74 wraps of cocaine

• 4g of heroin

• 8g of cocaine

• over 700g of a crack cocaine cutting agent

• four sets of scales

• multiple pots and containers containing crack cocaine residue

• £10,885 in cash.

Kargbo was located inside the property after having tried to flush a mobile phone and drugs down a toilet. The phone was also seized and he was arrested.

The next day (10 December 2025) Kargbo was charged with five counts of possession with intent to supply a class A drug, and breach of a slavery and trafficking prevention order.

He appeared late the same day at Brighton Magistrates’ Court and was remanded into custody.

The investigation continued and at his plea hearing on 21 May 2026, Kargbo pleaded guilty to the charges and was remanded until his sentencing.

Patrick Kargbo, 23, of Royal Sussex Crescent, Eastbourne, appeared at Lewes Crown Court on 22 July 2026.

He was jailed for seven and a half years and ordered to forfeit the seized cash under Section 27 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.