Dean Beason, 41, of Lincombe Road, was part of a county line which pedalled drugs in Gravesend.
After Kent Police were informed of the messages officers were sent to Erith to catch the person responsible for the ‘Jeff Line’.
This led them to Corinthian Road in Erith on October 11 last year, where they stopped a Peugeot 206.
Beason was driving the vehicle and the phone which had been sending the texts was also inside.
Officers also found two more phones and a wrap of crack cocaine.
Beason was arrested and a search of his home recovered 20 deals of crack cocaine, eight wraps of heroin, electronic scales, £450 in cash and a booklet with details of drug deals.
He was later convicted of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, and two counts of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply.
On Thursday (January 18) was jailed for four years by a judge at Maidstone Crown Court.
Detective Constable Michael Nolan said: “Our investigators will go to great lengths to stop these dealers travelling into Kent with class A drugs. In this case, we worked out who held the phone and where they were likely to be found.
“Our proactive officers were then sent into south London at which point it was only a matter of time before their target was tracked down and arrested.
“Subsequent enquiries led the constables to recover sufficient evidence to help us send the man to jail.
“Any others seeking to emulate this criminal can expect to receive similar attention from our dedicated enforcement teams.”
