The leader of an organised crime group from Liverpool who used a child to traffic drugs into Cumbria has been sentenced.
Yacine Djalti was the leader of a county lines drug gang that would run crack cocaine and heroin on the county line known as 'Mo' into South Cumbria in July and August 2021. On July 28, 2021, Cumbria Police executed a warrant at an address on Abbey Road in Barrow-in-Furness after they received intelligence that drug dealing was taking place in the area.
80 wraps of crack cocaine and 98 wraps of heroin with the value of £3,600 along with £360 in cash was found in the property. When police stormed the flat they found occupant Marc Woods, street dealer Derek Duncan, and ‘stock keeper’ Fred Williams, all three were arrested.
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Thanks to phone evidence from the day police found that there was regular contact between all three of the men and OCG leader Djalti, as well as contact with drug courier Gary Crompton.
Just over a week later on August 5, 2021, officers conducted another warrant at another address on Titchfield Street in Barrow-in-Furness where a further 89 wraps of heroin and £1,080 in cash was found. Inside officers found the flat occupant and street dealer Ben Heavyside and a juvenile from Merseyside.
Finally, in a joint warrant from Merseyside Police and Cumbria Police that was executed on August 17, 2021 at a house on Whitney Road. As police approached the address Djalti was spotted walking down the street and officers began to chase him with him sprinting through gardens and discarding mobile phones, cash and a knife.
When the phones were recovered, police found that both were handsets used to run the county lines operation.
Yacine Djalti, 20, from Liverpool but of no fixed abode was sentenced to nine years and nine months in prison for conspiracy to supply heroin, conspiracy to supply crack cocaine, criminal damage to property, possessing a knife blade in a public place and racially aggravated public order.
Other members of the OCG were sentenced on March 23 at an earlier hearing.
- Fred Williams, 21, of Glasven Road, Liverpool was sentenced to two years, ten months for being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin.
- Gary Crompton, 59, of Aurorean Close, Liverpool was sentenced to two years for conspiring to supply a class A controlled drug – Crack Cocaine and Heroin.
- Ben Heavyside, 31, of Titchfield Street, Barrow was sentenced to three years, four months for conspiring to supply a class A controlled drug – Heroin and arrange or facilitate travel of another person with a view of exploitation
- Derek Duncan, 50 of, Stonegarth, Carlisle has been sentenced to two years for conspiring to supply a class A controlled drug – Crack Cocaine and Heroin.
- Marc Woods, 44, of Abbey Road, Barrow was sentenced to thirteen months for permitting premises to be used.
A spokesperson from the south area Community Serious and Organised Crime Unit said: “Djalti’s drug operation exploited the most vulnerable in society, for profit.
“He and other members of the crime group used a child to traffic drugs into the county, and he made money from Cumbrians struggling with addiction. The investigation against this criminal group was lengthy and complex, and the strength of the evidence against Djalti – which ultimately led him to plead guilty to the full facts of the prosecution case rather than elect for trial – was achieved in partnership with Merseyside Police.
“I hope these sentences send a strong message to those selling Class A drugs into south Cumbria: we will pursue you, arrest you, and prosecute you no matter where you live.”
The information we receive from you on drugs supply is crucial to our efforts to tackling this issue. If you witness drug supply activity or have information, please report this to us. You can do this quickly and easily online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it.
Or complete our online intelligence reporting form to share information that you feel could help us investigate a suspected crime or perhaps safeguard someone who may need our help - Tell Us Something - Cumbria Constabulary. Alternatively, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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