Four men have been sentenced for their roles in running a county lines drug line that supplied crack cocaine and heroin across the West Midlands, police have confirmed.
Details of the Sentences
The men were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, 24 March. The ringleader, 27-year-old Reece Smith from Walsall, was jailed for seven years and two months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin. Three other men were also sentenced for their involvement in the operation.
Kyle Adams, 24, from Birmingham, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. Aaron Lawley, 26, from Walsall, received a two-year sentence, suspended for two years. The fourth man, 23-year-old Jordan Moseley from Birmingham, was given a 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work.
Police Investigation
West Midlands Police launched an investigation into the drug line, known as the 'Mitch' line, in 2021. The line was responsible for supplying crack cocaine and heroin to users across the region, including in Birmingham, Walsall, and Wolverhampton. Officers used phone data, surveillance, and witness statements to build a case against the men.
Detective Constable Gareth Morgan, from West Midlands Police's county lines team, said: 'This was a significant operation that caused harm to vulnerable people in our communities. The sentences handed down reflect the seriousness of their crimes and should serve as a warning to others involved in county lines drug dealing.'
Impact on Communities
County lines drug dealing often involves the exploitation of children and vulnerable adults to transport and sell drugs. The National Crime Agency has reported that there were over 3,000 county lines in the UK in 2022, with many linked to violence and exploitation.
In this case, the court heard that the group used encrypted messaging apps to communicate with customers and coordinate deliveries. They also employed young people as runners, some as young as 15, to deliver drugs to users.
Sentencing Remarks
Judge Melbourne Inman QC, sentencing the men, said: 'This was a well-organised commercial operation supplying Class A drugs on a significant scale. The use of young people to run drugs is a particularly concerning feature of this case.'
All four men were also made subject to serious crime prevention orders, which will restrict their activities and communications for five years after their release from prison.
West Midlands Police have urged anyone with information about county lines drug dealing to contact them on 101 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
