Four County Lines drug dealers jailed

Aftab

Four drug dealers who were part of a network supplying drugs into Hertfordshire have been jailed for more than 17 years in total.

The men were part of a gang who were supplying crack cocaine and heroin from their base   in Luton into the Welwyn Hatfield area. Several members of the gang were arrested during an operation in 2022, where numerous key mobile handsets, several bladed weapons, class A drugs and £7700 cash was seized. Six people were subsequently jailed in 2023 and four were released on bail.

The four men appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Tuesday 26 August, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin) were sentenced as follows:

• Hamza Aftab, aged 25, of Fountains Road, Luton was sentenced to seven years and seven months imprisonment.
• Adeeb Mohammed, aged 34, of St Winifred’s Avenue, Luton was sentenced to five years and four months imprisonment
• Muhammed Tawhid, aged 22, of Morgan Close, Luton was sentenced to two years and 10 months imprisonment
• Mohammed Sohail Khan, aged 22, of Hallwicks Road, Luton was sentenced to four years and two months imprisonment.

Detective Sergeant Chris Cowell, from the constabulary’s County Lines Investigation Unit, said: “Aftab took control the ‘Q’ line after other members of the gang were jailed, following an investigation by the County Lines Investigation Unit. We continued to monitor their activities and compile evidence to bring the remaining members to trial. Aftab used a dedicated telephone number to advertise/facilitate the sale of drugs to customers in Welwyn Hatfield. He would receive orders and then direct Tawhid or Khan to the waiting customers where drugs would be exchanged for cash. Mohammed stored drugs, cash and weapons on behalf of the group.

“County lines drug gangs pose a significant threat to communities, especially young people and those who are vulnerable. We rely on information from the public to be our eyes and ears on the streets. Help us to rid your community of drugs and related crime by reporting information about drug dealing.”

You can report information online, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form.

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 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:

• Lots of different people coming and going from an address during the day and at night.
• Suspicious smells coming from the property.
• Windows covered or curtains closed all of the time.
• Cars pulling up to or near to the house for a short period of time.
• An increase in anti-social behaviour around the property.