Three people jailed for County Lines drug supply in Weymouth
They admitted charges, with a fourth person getting a suspended sentence
Four people have been sentenced for conspiring to sell Class A drugs in Weymouth, as part of a County Lines supply network.
They all pleaded guilty at previous hearings to conspiring to supply cocaine and heroin, and have been sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court today (Friday 14th October).
- 32 year old Amir Ebrahimi from London has been handed an eight year and two month prison sentence
- 26 year old Tony Riordan from London has received a seven year and six month jail term
- 28 year old Jodie Julie Harris from London has been sentenced to six years and two months in prison
- 38 year old James Steven Henry Muir, of Abertillery in Wales, was given two year jail sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 240 hours of unpaid work
Riordan was also sentenced for offences in London and Northamptonshire.
Ebrahimi and Harris were also sentenced for offences in the Surrey area.
What happened?
Dorset Police found that a phone number was being used by a county lines drug network to sell drugs in the Weymouth area.
The drugs were being brought from London into Dorset and sold on locally.
Back in August 2018, Muir was seen engaging in a drug deal in The Marsh - he was searched by officers, who found heroin and crack cocaine wraps on him.
In October 2018, officers saw Harris exit a taxi in the town with a suitcase.
Police detained her and found the suitcase contained a large quantity of wraps of cocaine and heroin.
In November 2018, officers from Dorset Police travelled to the Hampton area of London and conducted a warrant at an address.
Ebrahimi was located inside the property with a mobile phone that was later found to have been operating using the phone number that officers had been investigating.
Riordan was also present at the address in London and subsequently arrested.
Detective Constable Declan Cummings, of Dorset Police, said:
“This investigation saw officers compile evidence over a period of months to ensure these individuals could be brought to justice.
“We are committed to relentlessly pursuing criminals and officers are working hard, alongside partner agencies, to tackle county lines by targeting offenders, taking drugs off the streets and safeguarding vulnerable victims.
“We fully recognise the detrimental impact the supply of drugs and drug-related activity has on our local communities and we will do all we can to identify those involved in the supply chain and take action against them.
“We hope this case sends out a clear message that drug dealing will not be tolerated in Dorset and we are dedicated to making it a hostile place for criminals."
David Sidwick, Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, said:
“My thanks go to all the officers and staff involved in bringing this case to court. I’m delighted to see Dorset Police continuing to smash county lines drugs networks and break organised crime groups.
"I have made no secret that I want tough enforcement action taken when it comes to dealing with county lines and drug trafficking and Dorset now has its own dedicated and proactive Operation Viper which will target those who come to our county to deal drugs.
“Today, three more drug dealers are behind bars and I hope that their sentences serve as a warning to other criminals who think they can pedal their disgusting trade in our county.”