Ten people jailed for drug dealing in Lincolnshire, Lancashire and Nottinghamshire
They were part of competing organised crime groups who were selling Class As
Ten people who ran drugs networks in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Lancashire have been jailed for 58 years.
They were part of competing organised crime groups who used phone lines to sell Class As.
Superintendent Phil Baker led an operation to catch them:
In all cases, a ‘drugs phone line’ was used to take orders and arrange deliveries, with members across the country playing different roles including supplying, sourcing, storing or selling the Class A drugs.
In some cases, mass marketing text messages with comments such as “Try before ya buy”sic were sent out to drug users or potential buyers.
One of the gangs sentenced, dubbed the Jimmy Line, was involved in the supply of hundreds of thousands of pounds of Class A drugs across two counties in the UK during September 2020 and June 2021.
One of the members, Ryan Williams, 33, of Acregate Digmoor, Skelmerdale in Lancashire, coordinated the supply of the drugs from his seven-bedroom house while another, Roberts Sokolovs, 22, of HMP Lincoln, bragged about his exploits by referring to himself as the “Latvian Pablo Escobar”, in reference to the Columbian drug lord.
During warrants issued at addresses of those involved in the Jimmy Line, more than £27,000 cash – some stashed in bundles in a rucksack – was seized, along with a variety of weapons. Criminal property, including clothing, jewellery, handbags and electrical goods was also seized from Williams’ Lancashire home.
It is estimated that between September 2020 and May 2021, the OCG would have made up to £104,220 from their Lincoln drug deals.
The second OCG, dubbed the Django Line, was responsible for bringing drugs from stash houses in Nottingham into Lincoln and dealing in the High Street and other areas. The gang would send out mass marketing messages to addicts, or potential customers with drugs advertised in code.
During warrants carried out at a flat rented by Kelvin Tutani, 27, of Yarborough Road, Lincoln, a shortened shotgun was found. Evidence showed both he and Babatunde Omotade, 27, of HMP Lincoln, had handled the weapon.
A handgun was also found at a stash house in Nottingham, which Noman Hassan, 25, of Bentinck Road, Nottingham pleaded guilty to possessing. Other weapons including a zombie knife, lock knives, and machetes were also found at another property in Nottingham.
It is estimated that in just 59 days, the gang made almost £20,000 worth of drug deals.
All members of both gangs faced charges of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs or being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, and some faced additional charges of possession of criminal property and offensive weapons.
Superintendent Phil Baker from Lincolnshire Police, said: “Our operation – Operation Stabilise – was launched following an emerging intelligence picture that drug dealing in Lincoln city centre was becoming prolific. At times, dealers were conducting brazen deals during the day in the High Street, and there were also violent altercations between multiple members of different gangs over ‘territory’, posing a risk to the public.
“Investigations found that there were multiple OCGs operating and dealing drugs in the city centre, as well as several lone operators. We wanted to combat this prolific County Lines activity and the associated crime that drug dealing brings; there are very clear links between drug dealing and crimes such as burglary, robbery, and other violent offences.
“This is a blight on our communities, and it leads to a very real risk that children and vulnerable people will be coerced into running drugs by gangs. Make no mistake about the level of complete selfishness and disregard for the lives ruined by those supplying and dealing the drugs. Some of those sentenced led lavish lifestyles, spending thousands on designer clothes, watches or gadgets while the people they exploited to traffic drugs, or those using them, were often living lives far removed from that luxury.
“This operation was an enormous police effort, and these sentences are the culmination of thousands of operational hours, and a real determination to rise to the challenge of taking dangerous drug dealers and associates off our streets. I am incredibly proud of the dedication, sheer determination and professionalism of all our investigators who have delivered these outstanding results. Lincolnshire can be viewed as a soft target for unscrupulous gangs looking to extend their control. For anyone with this belief we have demonstrated that we will respond with resounding force to remove this scourge and fulfil our mandate to protect our communities.”
The ten-month operation was a Force-wide effort in partnership with the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), including PCs, intelligence officers, detectives, armed response officers, forensics units, police staff, investigators and analysts.
It was led by Lincolnshire Police and also included officers from South Yorkshire Police, Nottinghamshire Police, Lancashire Police, West Midlands Police, and British Transport Police.
Those sentenced for running the Jimmy Line:
• Keegan MEALOR 26/07/2002 (20) of Carfield, Skelmersdale, Lancashire pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between 11/09/2020 and 07/06/2021 and received 6 years 11 months imprisonment on 24/11/2022.
• Roberts SOKOLOVS 04/08/2020 (22) of Ennerdale, Skelmersdale Lancashire pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between 11/09/2020 and 07/06/2021 and received 6 years 2 months imprisonment on 24/11/2022.
• Ryan WILLIAMS 20/04/1989 (33) of Acregate, Digmoor, Skelmersdale, Skelmersdale, Lancashire pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between 11/09/2020 and 07/06/2021 and received 7 years 6 months imprisonment on 24/11/2022.
• Jake LIGHTFOOT 07/04/2001 (21) of Carr Street, Lincoln pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between 11/09/2020 and 07/06/2021 and received 5 years 9 months imprisonment on 24/11/2022.
• Kristers SOKOLOVS 19/09/2002 (20) of Ennerdale, Skelmersdale, Lancashire pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between 11/09/2020 and 07/06/2021 and received 8 years and 3 months imprisonment on 19 December 2022.
A further seven people who pleaded guilty for their part in the conspiracy at earlier hearings have been sentenced to 13 years and 4 months in prison between them, some of which were suspended sentences. Some were also ordered to undertake unpaid work, be placed on curfew, and undertake drug rehabilitation.
Those sentenced for running the Django Line:
• Noman HASSAN (25) of Bentinck Road Nottingham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possession of a prohibited weapon (firearm) between 01/12/2000 & 25/06/2021 He was sentenced to 4 years 4 months imprisonment on 20/12/22.
• Babatunde Stephen OMATADE (27) c/o HMP Lincoln, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs 01/12/2000 & 25/06/2021 and possession of an altered firearm without a firearm certificate on 21/06/2021. He was sentenced to 5 years 1 month imprisonment on 20/12/22.
• Abdi ABDIRAHMAN (26) c/o HMP Lincoln pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs 01/12/2000 & 25/06/2021. He was sentenced to 3 years 8 months imprisonment on 20/12/22.
• Amber KEELEY (22) of Honnington Approach Lincoln, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs 01/12/2000 & 25/06/2021. She was sentenced to 3 years 2 months imprisonment on 20/12/22.
• Abdi NUR (22) of Fisher Street Nottingham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs 01/12/2000 & 25/06/2021. He was sentenced to 4 years 6 months imprisonment on 20/12/22.