Court heard Digga D supplied cannabis to his associates

A prominent British drill star supplied up to 60 kilograms (132 pounds) of cannabis to his peers in the music industry on a “commercial” level, including social gatherings, a court has heard.

Digga D – real name Rhys Herbert – was arrested near Lincoln while broadcasting on Instagram Live on the morning of February 21.

He pleaded guilty in May to cannabis trafficking charges related to July 11, 2023. He also admitted supplying cannabis between October 26, 2022 and February 21, 2024.

However, a judge at Lincoln Crown Court is deciding whether the rapper played a leading role in supplying quantities of the Class B drug on a “commercial scale”, as the prosecution did not admit he had supplied 3 kilograms (6.6 lb ) was imported.

During the hearing of the issue, known as the Newton Hearing, Herbert’s defense barrister, James Scobie Casey, said that the artist admitted that he consumes a lot of cannabis and that he does not like his peers in the music industry. Will also supply cannabis socially.

This involved four people who were staying with him at his address in Bracebridge Heath, near Lincoln, during the period of the raid.

Mr Scobie told the court that Herbert, of Lonsdale Road, Notting Hill, London, admitted importing 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) of cannabis and selling around 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of the Class B drug on a “sporadic” commercial basis – Due to which they got some profit. £300-£400 per deal.

However, prosecutors said the musician played a leading role in the supply of cannabis in quantities of up to 60 kilograms (132 lb).

The prosecution drug expert examined the messages recovered from Herbert and concluded that they were consistent with a bulk kilo supply of skunk cannabis that had been imported from the US, the court heard.

Mobile phone footage of the rapper handling a bag of cannabis and allegedly complaining about the poor quality was also played in court.

The prosecution claimed that several photographs showed Herbert handling large amounts of cash.

The court heard that two sets of scales and a cannabis grinder were seized from Herbert’s London home in Lonsdale Road.

Mr Scobie told the court his client was an internationally recognized musician with a legitimate income and had made videos that displayed large sums of cash.

Mr Scobie said Herbert’s earnings at the time of this activity were in excess of £3 million.

Herbert is currently detained at HMP Wormwood Scrubs and is following the hearing via video link from prison.

Digga D is one of the UK’s leading drill artists, with tracks receiving millions of views online.

Drill originated in Chicago in the early 2010s, but in recent years, UK artists have adopted the genre.

The two-day hearing is ongoing.