County Lines gang jailed after dashcam filmed drug dealing in Derby

A County Lines gang who had been operating in the East Midlands has been jailed for more than 40 years after a member of the group filmed their drug dealing activities on a taxi dashcam.

Police say the Nottingham gang, led by Bright Norman, moved "significant amounts" of heroin and crack cocaine into Derby between 20th March 2020 and 22 July 2020 - known as the Marlow line.

During that period they sent out 8,439 text messages marketing the drugs they had for sale.

Police say that, as with other County Lines drug operations, the gang used vulnerable young people, who are often bullied and intimated, to sell drugs.

Norman, along with his right-hand men Andrew Evaristo and Mohammed Haely, would pass the drugs to runners Nana Vandevelde, Ricky Hollis-Smith and Grady Mabika-Blessing, who would then re-stock the sellers in Derby.

Taxi driver Shahid Iqbal was introduced to the gang by Haely and would transport drugs and vulnerable young people for the gang.

Officers became aware that Iqbal's taxi was being used to run drugs into the city and vehicle was seized.

Inside the car was the police say there was "vast amounts of footage" in both pictures and sound, detailing the drug deal activities of the gang.

All the gang members eventually pleaded guilty to their parts in the conspiracy and were jailed for more than 40 years in total at Derby Crown Court on 6 May.

The following were all jailed for conspiracy to supply class A drugs:

Bright Norman, 25, of Hazel Hill Crescent, Bestwood, Nottingham - Nine years, six months

Andrew Evaristo, 24, of Charlbury Road, Bilborough, Nottingham - Seven years, 10 months

Mohammed Haely, 22, of Draper Crescent, Wokingham - Six years, nine months

Cherice Fuller, 28, of Burgass Road, Thorneywood, Nottingham - Five years

Shahid Iqbal, 41, of Hollinwell Avenue, Wollaton, Nottingham - Four years

Nana Vandevelde, 18, of Penroyson Close, West Gorton, Manchester - 19 months

Grady Mabika-Blessing, 21, of Westleigh Road, Broxtowe, Nottingham - Three years

The three women involved in the gang were sentenced to the following jail terms after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs:

Mandy Hughes, 40, at St Davids Close, near Rykneld Park, Derby - Three years

Sharon Taylor, 35, of Harrison Street - 15 months

Gemma Cooper, 36, of Harrison Street - 15 months suspended for two years

Ricky Hollis-Smith, 19, of Elm Avenue, Nottingham will be sentenced at a later date.