Members of an organised crime group have been jailed for peddling crack cocaine and heroin on the streets of Beswick and Manchester city centre.
Anthony McKenna, 23, supplied 'substantial amounts' to Jamie Lee Collins, who in turn recruited Michelle McIntyre and Paul McMullen to advertise and deal the drugs, police said as all four began jail sentences.
McKenna - who has been locked up for six years - asked Collins in one exchange uncovered by police: "You runni low on that yet rkid?" Collins, 34, replied that he would 'grab' more and was 'cleaning up', Greater Manchester Police added.
He was arrested in November last year when officers executed a warrant at his home - giving himself up wearing just his boxer shorts - although police said they believe he had quickly managed to flush away drugs he was storing.
McMullen, 51, and McIntyre, 49, both of no fixed address, were found asleep on a sofa at a flat on Samuel Ogden Street in Manchester city centre before they were arrested. A search of the property uncovered debtors' lists, wraps of crack cocaine and heroin, mobile phones, and drug paraphernalia, added GMP.
McKenna, of Rigeway Street, Miles Platting; Collins, of Purslow Close, Beswick, and McMullen and McIntyre all four pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin. They were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday.
Collins was told he would serve five years and six months in jail. McMullen was sentenced to two years and five months and McIntyre to three years, four months.
GMP said in a statement: "Collins recruited McIntyre and McMullen to advertise and supply the drugs, which he then reaped the rewards of.
"McKenna would be in regular contact with Collins to provide restocks of the drugs. In one exchange he asked Collins: "You runni low on that yet rkid?" He replied that he would 'grab' more and was 'cleaning up'.
"McIntyre and McMullen acted as street dealers who contacted addicts by sending bulk messages known as flares via a 'graft' phone before heading out onto the streets to supply the drugs.
"After coming to the attention of GMP's city of Manchester north challenger team, warrants were executed and they were arrested. McKenna was arrested on Tuesday 22 February 2022 at his address and two phones were seized."
Detective Constable Chris Anders said: "The group were operating under a county lines network that is known for profiting from some of the most vulnerable people in our community.
"McKenna was supplying substantial amounts of crack cocaine and heroin to Collins who would then use McIntyre and McMullen to deal the drugs to users. During the warrants – which were supported by the Tactical Aid Unit – we seized mobile phones which showed how the gang were operating but also led us to McKenna who was sitting at the top of this supply chain."
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