County lines drug-dealing gang members are sentenced

MEMBERS of a county line drugs gang have been handed sentences totalling over 17 years for their part in supplying illegal drugs following a raid in Rochdale.

- BY HELENA VESTY

The gang carried out their crimes by using an organised phone line in Oldham, with thousands of flare messages being uncovered by Greater Manchester Police officers.

The messages sent to contacts advertised crack and heroin, branded the 'Jay & Killer' county line, a joint policing operation between GMP’s force County Lines Team and the Oldham Complex Safeguarding Team revealed.

The dedicated line was investigated over six months, and it is believed that over that time, the crime operation distributed 5KG of Class A drugs with an estimated street value of £150K.

Two boys, both aged 14, were recruited and used as drug runners for the gang. They were groomed by criminals and coerced to commit crimes and participate in risky behaviour.

Police used 'maximum' overt and covert policing tactics to gather intelligence to corroborate that the 'Jay & Killer' county line is part of an organised crime group supplying Class A drugs.

On July 25, 2024, the police executed warrants at nine addresses across Rochdale Oldham, Chadderton and Stalybridge, and arrested six adults and two teenagers.