A man who fled the UK while under investigation for serious drug offences has been jailed for ten years after being extradited from Georgia.
Andrew Prince, 29, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday, 9 July, after admitting conspiracy to supply Class A, B and C drugs, as well as Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm (ABH).
Prince had been on the run for four years after fleeing the UK following his arrest in February 2022.
The investigation began after officers attended an address in Wellington Road, Hastings, on 24 February 2022, in connection with an unrelated allegation. During forensic examinations, detectives uncovered evidence of an established operation involved in the production and supply of Class A, B and C drugs. Further enquiries linked Prince to the offences.
Extensive investigations by the East Sussex Community Investigation Team established that Prince had left the country.
Working alongside the National Crime Agency, international law enforcement partners and the National Extradition Unit (NEU), detectives secured a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) warrant for his arrest.
On 3 March 2026, Prince was arrested by police in Tbilisi, Georgia. He was extradited to the UK by the National Extradition Unit on 15 April 2026, where he was arrested by Sussex Police officers, charged and remanded in custody.
Prince appeared at Lewes Crown Court on 25 May 2026, where he plead guilty to eight counts of conspiring to supply a Class A controlled drug, one count of conspiring to supply a Class B controlled drug, one count of conspiring to supply a Class C controlled drug and one count of conspiring to have custody / control a thing knowing it was a counterfeit currency note with intent.
He also admitted a charge of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm against a woman, relating to an offence committed overseas.
At Lewes Crown Court on Thursday, 9 July, Prince was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for the drug offences, with a further consecutive one-year sentence for the assault, making a total of ten years.
Detectives believe Prince played a significant role in the supply of illegal drugs in the Hastings area and was involved in associated violence.
Detective Superintendent Jay Mendis-Gunasekera said: "Andrew Prince believed he could evade justice by fleeing the country, but the determination of detectives and our partners ensured he was brought back to the UK to face the consequences of his actions.
"This case demonstrates our commitment to pursuing offenders wherever they are. Drug dealing causes significant harm to our communities and is often linked to violence and exploitation.
"We hope this sentence reassures the public that we will continue to work tirelessly to bring offenders before the courts, no matter how long it takes."
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