A drug dealer in Dartford has been jailed for more than seven years after officers found a secret messaging service he was using.

Between April and June 2020, Terry Agombar arranged to buy and sell a minimum of 10 kilograms of cocaine using a secret messaging service.

Despite thinking that his messages were encrypted, they were recovered by international law enforcement agencies.

Messages from a person using the pen name, ‘serialcod’, which were about a large-scale purchase of cocaine in the county, were passed to Kent Police.

Investigators were able to identify Agombar as the person using the fake name.

Agombar, of William Mundy Way in Dartford, was arrested on November 30, 2020.

He was then charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court.

On Friday (September 29), the 32-year-old was sentenced to seven years and eight months’ imprisonment.

Detective Constable Aaron Chapman, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “When Agombar was buying and selling large quantities of cocaine, a kilogram was being exchanged for between £36,000 - £40,000.

“This is an indication of the profits he and his criminal associates were making.

“They could freely discuss the sale of class A drugs without fear of being arrested but their confidence was misplaced.

“He is now serving a substantial prison sentence and we will be seeking to recover the his ill-gotten gains through the Proceeds of Crime Act.

A spokesperson for Kent Police said: “A Dartford drug dealer involved in the wholesale supply of cocaine has been jailed for more than seven years after officers cracked a secret messaging service he was using.

“Between April and June 2020, Terry Agombar arranged to buy and sell a minimum of 10 kilograms of cocaine, unaware that his messages to other criminals he thought were encrypted, could be recovered by international law enforcement agencies.

“Messages from a person using the pseudonym, ‘serialcod’ that concerned the large-scale purchase of cocaine in the county, were passed to Kent Police.

“Investigators were able to identify Agombar as the person using the false name. Agombar, of William Mundy Way, Dartford was arrested on 30 November 2020.

“He was later charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court.

“On Friday 29 September 2023, the 32-year-old was sentenced to seven years and eight months’ imprisonment.”