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Two drug dealers who ran a county lines drug network in Broxbourne have been jailed for a combined total of more than eight years.
Capitao
Two drug dealers who ran a county lines drug network in Broxbourne have been jailed for a combined total of more than eight years.
The pair were arrested in October 2020 following an investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary’s dedicated Operation Mantis team. The two men were charged with operating the ‘Lucky’ line which supplied crack cocaine and heroin from Broxbourne into Swindon during 2020.
Both men pleaded guilty at St Albans Crown Court on Wednesday 1 March, 2023:
A 34-year-old woman who acted as a driver, also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentence.
Kimpton
Detective Sergeant Chris Cowell, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Operation Mantis team, said: “Capitao and Kimpton ran the ‘Lucky’ line, which exported class A drugs into Swindon. The disruption of this line will make a significant impact on drug supply and associated crime in Broxbourne and in the Swindon area. It’s also another county line that has been shut down, sending a strong message to would-be drug dealers that they will be caught and jailed.
“Exploitation of vulnerable people is just one of the tragic symptoms of organised drug gangs. County lines dealers can coerce people into providing a base for dealers to operate or to act as distributers themselves. They often use young people to handle drugs and money, drawing them deeper into gang affiliation that often leads to violence and abuse.”
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What is County Lines?
County Lines is the name given to describe drug dealing, which involves criminal networks from urban areas expanding their activities into smaller towns and rural areas.
It often involves the exploitation of children, as gangs use young people and those with mental health or addiction problems to transport drugs and money. These gangs establish a base in the location they are targeting, often taking over the homes of local vulnerable adults by force or coercion in a practice referred to as ‘cuckooing’.
Dealers typically use a single phone line to facilitate the supply of Class A drugs to customers. The phone line is highly valuable and is protected through violence and intimidation.
*What is Operation Mantis?
The Operation Mantis team was launched in 2018 and is made up of officers who specialise in targeting serious and organised crime. Since May 2019 the team has executed hundreds of search warrants, made 389 arrests and seized over £392,000 in cash. This has led to numerous county lines gangs being dismantled and offenders sentenced to more than 506 years in prison in total.
What is Cuckooing?
Cuckooing is the term used when gangs establish a base in the location they are targeting, often taking over the homes of vulnerable adults by force or coercion.
How to spot the signs that cuckooing might be happening in your neighbourhood: