Eight sentenced after police break up West Sussex drugs gang
They were part of a 'county lines' network running drugs from London into the county
Eight people have been sentenced for their roles in a 'county lines' gang which transported drugs from London into West Sussex.
It follows a long-term operation by Sussex Police into the gang, which used what was known as the 'Ghost Line' to deal class A substances in Bognor and surrounding areas.
In May 2018, officers carrying out Operation Highwood executed a series of search warrants at addresses in Bognor and London, seizing large quantities of crack cocaine, heroin, cash and mobile phones used to deal drugs.
In addition,a 16-year-old boy from London who was suspected of being trafficked into West Sussex in order to deliver drugs on behalf of the gang was referred to supporting agencies.
After a series of separate trials, sentencing was completed at Portsmouth Crown Court on Monday (November 22nd).
Among those sentenced were 30-year-old Daniel Olugbosun and his brother, 29-year-old Michael Olugbosun (left and centre respectively in main picture).
Daniel was given a total sentence of five years and six months, while Michael was given a Section 37 Hospital Order of detention under the Mental Health Act 1983 - both were from Blackfriars Rd in London SE1.
26-year-old Amir Abrahams-Hodge (right in main picture) of Bradgate Rd, London SE6, was given a five years and four months sentence.
57-year-old Paul Penfold, of Linden Rd, Bognor: 33-year-old Gemma Best, of High St, Bognor: 52-year-old Darren Titus, of Whyke Rd, Chichester: and 42-year-old Matthew Kemp, of Hawthorn Rd, Bognor, were each given two years imprisonment, suspended for two years.
44-year-old Paula Reddings, of Orchard Rd, Chichester, was given a two-year Community Order.
All defendants except Michael Olugbosun, who was unfit to plead but who was found to have committed the offence after a trial of the facts, pleaded guilty.
Detective Sergeant Jason Vickers of the West Sussex Community Investigations Team, said:
“We have teams of officers and investigators whose skills are being used to disrupt organised crime groups. This complex investigation, of a type often unseen by the local public, demonstrates our ability to act locally and follow up with warrants and drug seizures in London, working with colleagues in the Met to prevent crime in West Sussex.
"The principals running the line were brothers Michael and Daniel Olugbosun. Daniel was in prison at the time already serving a sentence for drugs offences but was still actively involved.
"This operation is part of our continuing work, alongside colleagues from other forces and law enforcement agencies, to combat 'County Lines' drug dealers who operate from London by operating special phone lines and using the homes of vulnerable people locally, in order to use as a supply base.
"We recognise that drug dealing seen in the community increases the fear of crime and we will continue to seek to make this area a hostile place to commit crime."