Police smash county lines drugs ring jailing 72 ‘untouchable’ gangsters for more than 220 years
Police smash county lines drugs ring jailing 72 ‘untouchable’ gangsters for more than 220 years in biggest-ever takedown of a UK narcotics network
- Enterprise spanned 18 counties and was infiltrated by police over two years and stopped £1.3M of drugs
- Police found gang exploiting vulnerable children as young as 14 to sell crack cocaine and heroin
- Aways Osman, 28, Hussein Jimale, 26, Bruno Borges, 24, Omarni Bernard-Sewell, 25, and Levi Bernard,33, were described as ‘big players’ of the operation and were jailed for a total of 36 years for conspiracy to supply
A huge multi-million pound County Lines drugs ring has been smashed by police resulting in 72 gang members being jailed for over 221 years.
The large-scale criminal enterprise – which spanned 18 counties – was infiltrated by undercover officers following a two-year covert operation that stopped £1.3million of drugs from hitting the streets.
Police found the gang were exploiting vulnerable children as young as 14 and using them to peddle Class A drugs including crack cocaine and heroin on Britain’s streets.
Addicts were even vetted before they were able to gain access to the drugs they needed as part of the ‘enigmatic underground operation’.
The large-scale criminal enterprise – which spanned 18 counties – was infiltrated by undercover officers following a two-year covert operation and stopped £1.3million of drugs from hitting the streets
Police found the gang were exploiting vulnerable children as young as 14 and using them to peddle Class A drugs including crack cocaine and heroin on Britain’s streets. Pictured: Recovered weapons
Addicts were even vetted before they were able to gain access to the drugs they needed as part of the ‘enigmatic underground operation’. Pictured: Officers checking over a suspect
Northamptonshire Police launched a probe at the beginning of 2019 to infiltrate both County Lines and local drug dealing gangs across the county.
Aways Osman, 28, Hussein Jimale, 26, Bruno Borges, 24, Omarni Bernard-Sewell, 25, and Levi Bernard,33, were described as the ‘big players’ of the operation.
The London-based crooks were jailed for a total of 36 years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
Officers gained access to the secretive criminal network and unearthed evidence of gangs operating in London, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Northampton and London.
Warrants were executed simultaneously and multiple arrests were made at the end of 2019 resulting in over £1.3million of drugs being taken off the streets.
Northamptonshire Police launched a probe at the beginning of 2019 to infiltrate both County Lines and local drug dealing gangs across the county. Pictured: Recovered money
Aways Osman, 28, Hussein Jimale, 26, Bruno Borges, 24, Omarni Bernard-Sewell, 25, and Levi Bernard,33, were described as the ‘big players’ of the operation. Pictured: All of the arrested criminals
Officers gained access to the secretive criminal network and unearthed evidence of gangs operating in London, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Northampton and London
Warrants were executed simultaneously and multiple arrests were made at the end of 2019 resulting in over £1.3million of drugs being taken off the streets. Pictured: Recovered drugs
A total of 72 men and women have now been convicted and jailed for more than 221 years – shutting down 30 drugs lines across the country.
It is believed to be the biggest conviction of its kind by a single UK police force against a County Lines drugs gang.
Detective Chief Inspector Adam Pendlebury, of Northamptonshire Police, said: ‘We have always been clear as a Force that it is the people at the top of these drug dealing gangs who we want to target.
‘And this operation has done exactly that, leaving no stone unturned from London to Northamptonshire in order to put these people where they belong – behind bars.
A total of 72 men and women have now been convicted and jailed for more than 221 years – shutting down 30 drugs lines across the country. Pictured: Recovered designer goods
It is believed to be the biggest conviction of its kind by a single UK police force against a County Lines drugs gang
Detective Chief Inspector Adam Pendlebury, of Northamptonshire Police, said: ‘We have always been clear as a Force that it is the people at the top of these drug dealing gangs who we want to target’
‘Drug dealers like Aways Osman, Hussein Jimale, Bruno Borges, Omarni Bernard-Sewell and Levi Bernard truly think they are untouchable.
‘They exploit vulnerable people like children and adults suffering with addiction, and make them take all the risks, while they sit at home counting their money. There is no honour in this.
‘Over the past two years we have warned them and their associates directly that one day, we would get them, one day we would come through their door, and one day they would be looking at the inside of a prison cell.
‘Today is that day and I could not be prouder of the exceptional work that has gone into this investigation by a group of detectives, uniformed officers and experienced criminal analysts, who have made this operation their lives for the past two years.
He added: ‘Drug dealers like Aways Osman, Hussein Jimale, Bruno Borges, Omarni Bernard-Sewell and Levi Bernard truly think they are untouchable.’ Pictured: Recovered drugs
Pictured: More recovered designer goods
DCI Pendlebury said: ‘Over the past two years we have warned them and their associates directly that one day, we would get them, one day we would come through their door, and one day they would be looking at the inside of a prison cell’
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Stephen Mold, said: ‘These results are absolutely fantastic’
‘Of course our work is never done as there will always be people who think dealing drugs is an acceptable way to make money.
‘But I hope the success of this operation makes our relentlessness to pursue offenders clear and reassures the community.
‘My advice to those drug dealers we haven’t caught yet is to look at the list below – perhaps there are names on there that you recognise.
‘There was a time when like you, their egos allowed them to think that they were beyond our reach. Don’t make the same mistake.’
Chief Constable Nick Adderley, said: ‘To say this was a phenomenal operation, led by DCI Adam Pendlebury, would be a complete understatement’
He added: ‘The drive, commitment, determination, creativity, tenacity and relentlessness these detectives have shown here is incredible and I am so very proud of them’
Chief Constable Nick Adderley, said: ‘To say this was a phenomenal operation, led by DCI Adam Pendlebury, would be a complete understatement.
‘The drive, commitment, determination, creativity, tenacity and relentlessness these detectives have shown here is incredible and I am so very proud of them.’
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Stephen Mold, said: ‘These results are absolutely fantastic.
‘I know that across Northamptonshire, people are concerned with the drug dealing and related anti-social behaviour that they see in their communities and they want to see it being dealt with robustly.
‘This is a great demonstration of the work being done by Northamptonshire Police to make all of our communities safer and shows that the Force is putting the investments we have made to good use in cracking down on crime.’