Two drug dealers have been jailed for more than 12 years after they flooded a Welsh town with crack cocaine and heroin. Devonn Weston and Blake Sharpe, both 23, ran a Class A drug supply line in Llandrindod Wells.
A court heard the duo controlled vulnerable individuals as they ran drugs through lines known as 'Alex' and 'Nunny'. Weston and Sharpe were controlling six drug lines, including rackets in Nuneaton and Tamworth, Birmingham Live reports.
The pair directed those lower down the chain to try to distance themselves and minimise their chance of arrest. But after officers stopped Weston's car on July 14 last year, their world came crashing down.
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A raid was conducted in Tamworth and class A drugs, cash and scales were found. Sharpe, from Shrubbery Avenue, Tipton, handed himself into police on September 13. Cops analysed phones, text messages and CCTV in a bid to secure evidence. Text messages were sent out from the lines stating things such as 'best of both' and 'on bangin both' - referring to crack cocaine and heroin.
Examination of messages also showed Sharpe actively trying to recruit young people to go 'out of town' and be involved in drug dealing. Weston and Sharpe both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at Birmingham Crown Court. Weston, from Jackson Street, Oldbury, was sentenced to six years and eight months this week and Sharpe was handed a jail term of six years.
Chief Insp Tom Hadley, from West Midlands Police Force CID, said: "County Lines drug dealers ruin lives and our officers from the Regional County Lines Taskforce worked hard to stop Weston and Sharpe and bring them to justice. County Lines gangs should know they are in our sights and our work goes on 24/7 to stop them and get them off our streets."
A spokesperson for the force added: "People with information about County Lines drug dealing should contact us via Live Chat on our website or by calling 101. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111."
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