Five Watford drug dealers jailed for more than 33 years

Five drug dealers who played key roles in supplying a range of Class A and B drugs across the Watford area, as well as the trafficking of a vulnerable girl to supply drugs, have been jailed for a combined total of more than 33 years.

Bugembe

One of the gang, Jakub Hostacny, aged 24, and of Arliss Court, Watford, appeared at St Albans Crown Court on 27 March 2026 and was jailed for five years and two months for being concerned in the supplying of Class A and B drugs. 

Lamin

Four of the gangs had previously appeared at St Albans Crown Court, on 2 March 2026, and were sentenced as follows:

• Shakir Bugembe, aged 24, of Surrey Lane, London, was jailed for eight years and six months
• Imad Lamin, aged 22, of Eskdale Avenue, Northolt, was jailed for eight years and six months
• Rahim Ssenyonga, aged 23, of Frithwood Avenue, Northwood, was jailed for six years and three months
• Rajwan Miah, aged 38, of Walnut Tree Road, Hounslow, was jailed for three years and seven months

Lamin was also sentenced to one year and Hostacny to eight months in prison, for arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to being exploited, in relation to the trafficking of a vulnerable girl who was being used by the gang. A Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order is also being sought against Hostacny and Lamin.  

Hostacny

The investigation was first launched in August 2024 after police attended the Holiday Inn hotel in Watford’s Clarendon Road, as part of enquiries to trace a missing teenage girl from London. Inside the hotel room, officers found the missing teenager along with Hostacny and Lamin. A search of the room revealed 2C-B, MDMA, cannabis, LSD and cocaine, which were seized and given an estimated street value of around £2,000.

Ssenyonga

Following this, the team worked hard to secure evidence and intelligence for a series of warrants and on Wednesday 11 December 2024, they forced entry to properties in both Arliss Court in Watford and Walnut Tree Close in Hounslow, London. Inside the Arliss Court address they found Hostacny and Lamin, as well as £6,000 in cash and drugs paraphernalia and the phone used to run the ‘Tony Stark’ drug line. Miah was located at the address in Walnut Tree Close, where police discovered cocaine, MDMA, cannabis, THC and ketamine, with an estimated street value of more than £8,500.

Later the same day, Bugembe was stopped and searched on Exchange Road, Watford, where he was found to be in possession of a drugs line phone and cash, following a suspected drug deal. A short time later, officers identified an address of interest in Sligo House, Watford, where they found and recovered more class A and B drugs with an estimated street value of £28,000.

Miah

Following their arrests Hostacny, Lamin, Miah and Bugembe were all charged and remanded for Class A and Class B drug supply.  

On 23 January 2025, police conducted a further warrant – this time at Frithwood Avenue in Northwood, where they arrested Ssenyonga on suspicion of supplying Class A and B drugs. He was subsequently charged and remanded.

Three of the men, Hostacny, Miah, and Ssenyonga previously plead guilty to a multitude of charges relating to the supply of Class A and B drugs, through the ‘Tony Stark line’ in Watford between April and December 2024.

During a trial at St Albans Crown Court in July 2025, Bugembe was found guilty by a jury, after just 90 minutes deliberation, for Class A and Class B drug supply offences. Lamin, who was also on trial, pleaded guilty during cross examination.

Detective Sergeant Christopher Cowell, from the County Lines Investigation Unit, said: “This operation targeted a gang running the ‘Tony Stark’ line that was supplying drugs to the Watford area. Members of the gangs also exploited a child as part of their criminal activities. Those jailed were the ringleaders of the gang which has now been dismantled.

“These sentences will have a significant effected on the drug supply and related crime in Watford. I’m particularly pleased that the court recognised the long-term harm these gangs inflict on young people the exploit, which can lead to a lifetime of criminality, drug use and violence. They prey on young people and use them to carry drugs and cash, often placing them in dangerous situation or even sexually exploiting them. A Slavery Traffic and Prevention Order will ensure they cannot do so again. We continue to rely on the public to be our eyes and ears. If you have any information about gang activity or drug dealing, please report it — together we can help keep Hertfordshire safe.”