A Manchester-based drugs gang that caused 'misery and mayhem' in Devon was smashed after hotel staff reported their 'unruly' behaviour to police. Officers were regularly called to hotels and homes where members of the county lines operation were staying while down south.
The gang's ringleader Sean O’Neill stayed with his girlfriend at the trendy Hotel du Vin in Exeter while other hotels were reported to police when staff spotted thousands of pounds in cash. Some members were arrested repeatedly and released under investigation but went straight back into business, sending thousands of texts to customers every week.
As part of the operation, they used the street names Manc P and Black P and ‘cuckooed’ a wheelchair drug addict and used an empty flat while its owner was away, Exeter Crown Court heard. Police traced at least 16 trips from Manchester to Exeter in which two female couriers brought thousands of pounds worth of drugs to Devon and took back large quantities of cash.
