Suffolk county lines drug dealer jailed for over four years

The 35 year old from Kent ran an operation which saw Class A drugs brought into the county

35 year old Michael Mayes
Author: Matt SoanesPublished 20th Jul 2023

A man has been jailed for four years and three months for his role in a 'county lines' operation bringing Class A drugs into Suffolk.

35 year old Michael Mayes, of Ramsgate in Kent, previously admitted to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine; being concerned in the supply of heroin and money laundering at Ipswich Crown Court.

The ooffences are said to have happened between April and September 2021.

He was identified as the man behind the 'Rockstar' county line after police seized a phone belonging to a drug union in Ipswich.

Mayes was arrested on September 20 2021 during a raid in Station Street, Ipswich.

He was found to be carrying £1,200 in cash, while Class A drugs was also seized.

Kent Police raided on of Mayes' previous addresses, seizing three mobile phones, one of which was linked to the 'Rockstar' drug line.

Detective Sergeant Vince Grimsey, of Suffolk Constabulary, said: “Over the course of several months and primarily through detailed mobile phone analysis, we were able to undeniably prove that Michael Mayes was controlling the County Line identified as ‘Rockstar’.

“We are pleased to have removed another County Line from the streets of Suffolk. People such as Mayes prey on predominantly vulnerable people and are a blight on society.

"I welcome the sentence handed down to him by the court which reflects the seriousness of his crimes.”

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