Nine drug dealers who exploited a 16-year-old boy to sell crack cocaine and heroin in north London have been sentenced.
Chris Moran, Terell Prescott and Shaquille Allen’s gang even blackmailed the teenager over a debt to sell drugs for them to users in Camden and Islington.
The youngster, who has now been safeguarded by Metropolitan Police officers, was arrested along with two other males during Operation Mackerel.
Detectives linked the trio to a wider network operating in the N1 postcode.
Dawn raids were carried out in Islington, Hackney, Haringey and the Hertfordshire towns of London Colney and Welwyn Garden City in October 2022.
Police seized large amounts of Class A cocaine and heroin, along with 15 kilos of Class B cannabis, cutting agents and paraphernalia at various addresses.
Around £23,000 in cash and a mobile phone controlling the drugs line were found in east London.
At Snaresbrook Crown Court, Moran, 25, of London Colney, received seven years and six months jail for conspiracy to supply.
For their parts, Prescott, 26, of Haringey, was jailed for five years and three months; Allen, 26, of Hackney, seven years, 10 months.
Gang members Colin Hylton, 41, of Wandsworth, and Aaron Connor, 21, of Islington, were sentenced to seven years in prison and 31 months respectively.
Louis Lillington, 49, of Islington, received two years, suspended for 24 months; Jack Ashby, 21, of Islington, 22 months, suspended for two years; and Levi Moran, 22, of Islington, was jailed for intent to supply cannabis.
Shamant Sheraji, 24, of Islington - who “renting out” the 16-year-old boy after a dispute over payment - received five-and-a-half years jail for blackmail and being concerned in supply of drugs.
Last month, Allen - one of two Rolex robbers who ripped watches off their victims in Mayfair, Soho and Hoxton - also got three years and four months at Wood Green Crown Court.
No action was taken against the boy who is being supported by a local anti-knife crime charity.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Soole, of the Central North Command’s proactive team, said: “Anyone who seeks to profit from the misery caused by illegal drugs can expect a rude awakening.
“We are deploying numerous tactics to identify and arrest those responsible for supplying drugs in Camden and Islington.
“Our aim is fourfold: to bring to justice anyone committing the criminal offence of drug dealing, to reduce the harm caused to those using illegal drugs, to reduce serious violence and to protect young people at risk of being drawn into organised criminal groups.
“I have seen how young people are exploited by criminal groups and how their activities fuel violence in our communities.”
“Drug dealing is intrinsically linked to serious violence. Nobody using illegal drugs should be fooling themselves that they’re somehow doing no harm; that is simply not the case.”
Detective Inspector Zara Baker added: “My message to everyone living in Camden and Islington is that dedicated police officers are here, working hard alongside partners in and with your communities to arrest the people responsible for criminality.
“A lot of this work is unseen, but please be assured that we are not complacent – our work is ongoing and there is a continual committed effort to making your neighbourhoods safer.”
