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| Gang guilty of London to Cornwall county lines drug operation | Gang guilty of London to Cornwall county lines drug operation |
| (15 days later) | |
| Seven gang members have been found guilty of running a sophisticated county lines operation in which heroin and crack cocaine were shipped from London to Cornwall with vulnerable young people exploited to sell drugs. | Seven gang members have been found guilty of running a sophisticated county lines operation in which heroin and crack cocaine were shipped from London to Cornwall with vulnerable young people exploited to sell drugs. |
| The “Billy line” resulted in many thousands of pounds-worth of class A drugs being sold to almost 100 users in Cornish towns including Bodmin and the surfing resort of Newquay, Truro crown court heard. | The “Billy line” resulted in many thousands of pounds-worth of class A drugs being sold to almost 100 users in Cornish towns including Bodmin and the surfing resort of Newquay, Truro crown court heard. |
| A jury on Tuesday found John Griffin, 56, of Bodmin, and Shanice Morrison, 28, of Tottenham, north London, guilty of conspiring to supply crack cocaine and heroin. | A jury on Tuesday found John Griffin, 56, of Bodmin, and Shanice Morrison, 28, of Tottenham, north London, guilty of conspiring to supply crack cocaine and heroin. |
| The name ‘county lines’ refers to the phone numbers, or lines, that criminal gangs which traffic drugs from urban to rural areas use to organise the sale of their wares. Gangs in cities such as London, Birmingham and Liverpool use children to deal mostly heroin and crack cocaine over a network of dedicated mobile phones to smaller towns and rural areas. | The name ‘county lines’ refers to the phone numbers, or lines, that criminal gangs which traffic drugs from urban to rural areas use to organise the sale of their wares. Gangs in cities such as London, Birmingham and Liverpool use children to deal mostly heroin and crack cocaine over a network of dedicated mobile phones to smaller towns and rural areas. |
| The majority of victims groomed into working for gangs are 15- to 17-year-old boys but children as young as 11 have been safeguarded and girls have been targeted. | The majority of victims groomed into working for gangs are 15- to 17-year-old boys but children as young as 11 have been safeguarded and girls have been targeted. |
| Many victims are recruited over social media, with offenders luring them with images of cash, designer clothing and luxury cars, but vulnerable girls and women are being targeted by men who create the impression of a romantic relationship before subjecting them to sexual exploitation. | Many victims are recruited over social media, with offenders luring them with images of cash, designer clothing and luxury cars, but vulnerable girls and women are being targeted by men who create the impression of a romantic relationship before subjecting them to sexual exploitation. |
| In 2015, about seven forces reported county lines behaviour. Now, 44 forces, including British Transport Police, have recorded county lines behaviour on their turf. | In 2015, about seven forces reported county lines behaviour. Now, 44 forces, including British Transport Police, have recorded county lines behaviour on their turf. |
| No one really knows how many young people across the country are being forced to take part. Children without criminal records – known as ‘clean skins’ – are preferred because they are less likely to be known to detectives. The Children’s Society says 4,000 teenagers in London alone are exploited through county lines, while the children’s commissioner estimated at least 46,000 children in England were caught up in gangs. | No one really knows how many young people across the country are being forced to take part. Children without criminal records – known as ‘clean skins’ – are preferred because they are less likely to be known to detectives. The Children’s Society says 4,000 teenagers in London alone are exploited through county lines, while the children’s commissioner estimated at least 46,000 children in England were caught up in gangs. |
| The number of individual phone numbers identified by law enforcement officials as being used on established county lines networks is about 2,000 – nearly three times the 720 previously established.Police estimate the phone numbers are linked to about 1,000 branded networks, with a single line capable of making £800,000 profits in a year. | |
| Londoners Amari Orgill, 22, Connell Bruce, 31, Timon Davis-Blake, 20, Antoinette Bourne, 28, and a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons had already admitted the same offence. | Londoners Amari Orgill, 22, Connell Bruce, 31, Timon Davis-Blake, 20, Antoinette Bourne, 28, and a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons had already admitted the same offence. |
| The court heard that young people from north London were sent to Bodmin and dumped in the grubby flat of an addict, from where they sold heroin and crack cocaine that had been transported into the county in hired Mercedes and Audi saloons. | The court heard that young people from north London were sent to Bodmin and dumped in the grubby flat of an addict, from where they sold heroin and crack cocaine that had been transported into the county in hired Mercedes and Audi saloons. |
| The operation to catch the gang, codenamed Ligament, culminated in 200 Devon and Cornwall and Metropolitan police officers raiding properties across Cornwall and north London this year. | The operation to catch the gang, codenamed Ligament, culminated in 200 Devon and Cornwall and Metropolitan police officers raiding properties across Cornwall and north London this year. |
| Drugs, cash and knives were seized. When officers caught up with one gang member, he brandished a machete before being overpowered and arrested. | Drugs, cash and knives were seized. When officers caught up with one gang member, he brandished a machete before being overpowered and arrested. |
| According to the National Crime Agency, the term “county lines” is used to describe how gangs from big cities expand their operations to towns, often using violence to drive out local dealers. | According to the National Crime Agency, the term “county lines” is used to describe how gangs from big cities expand their operations to towns, often using violence to drive out local dealers. |
| A common feature in county lines drug supply is the exploitation of young and vulnerable people. Dealers frequently persuade or force teenagers to hole up in a local property belonging to an addict or someone with mental health problems, a practice known as “cuckooing”. | A common feature in county lines drug supply is the exploitation of young and vulnerable people. Dealers frequently persuade or force teenagers to hole up in a local property belonging to an addict or someone with mental health problems, a practice known as “cuckooing”. |
| Truro crown court heard how the Billy line’s mobile phones would send bulk text messages to addicts when a new shipment was on the way advertising what was available. | Truro crown court heard how the Billy line’s mobile phones would send bulk text messages to addicts when a new shipment was on the way advertising what was available. |
| Two of the boys caught up in the line were forced to live in the flat of a 56-year-old Bodmin addict called John Griffin. The court was told he had been given heroin in exchange for the use of his property. | Two of the boys caught up in the line were forced to live in the flat of a 56-year-old Bodmin addict called John Griffin. The court was told he had been given heroin in exchange for the use of his property. |
| There was little attempt to hide the dealing. The boys, who were black, stood out in the small Cornish town with a largely white population. The gang did not care – their modus operandi was to move boys in and out quickly. | There was little attempt to hide the dealing. The boys, who were black, stood out in the small Cornish town with a largely white population. The gang did not care – their modus operandi was to move boys in and out quickly. |
| One of the boys – known as X – informed police he had incurred a drug debt of £55 with the gang and was told he could pay it off by dealing. He presumed he would be put to work near his home in north London and was astonished when he ended up 250 miles away in Bodmin, far from family, friends and familiar surroundings. | One of the boys – known as X – informed police he had incurred a drug debt of £55 with the gang and was told he could pay it off by dealing. He presumed he would be put to work near his home in north London and was astonished when he ended up 250 miles away in Bodmin, far from family, friends and familiar surroundings. |
| When he was spotted by the authorities he was taken away by police and social services but was replaced by a second boy – Y – who said he had been bundled into a car in London, driven to Cornwall and put up in Griffin’s flat. | When he was spotted by the authorities he was taken away by police and social services but was replaced by a second boy – Y – who said he had been bundled into a car in London, driven to Cornwall and put up in Griffin’s flat. |
| Devon and Cornwall police believe Operation Ligament was a success not just because it disrupted the Billy line but because it also stopped at least a few young people from being exploited. | Devon and Cornwall police believe Operation Ligament was a success not just because it disrupted the Billy line but because it also stopped at least a few young people from being exploited. |
| DI Peter Found, from Devon and Cornwall police, said: “We are happy we have totally disrupted this drugs supply network. That protects vulnerable people in this county and London. It sends a clear message to those who seek to traffic drugs into Cornwall. We will target traffickers and prosecute them.” | DI Peter Found, from Devon and Cornwall police, said: “We are happy we have totally disrupted this drugs supply network. That protects vulnerable people in this county and London. It sends a clear message to those who seek to traffic drugs into Cornwall. We will target traffickers and prosecute them.” |
| The gang members will be sentenced on 11 October. | The gang members will be sentenced on 11 October. |
| County lines | County lines |
| Crime | Crime |
| Drugs | Drugs |
| Child protection | Child protection |
| Police | Police |
| Children | Children |
| Social care | Social care |
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