Express & Star

Three men caught in operation targeting County Lines

Three cocaine and heroin dealers from the Black Country were caught by police as part of a major operation targeting organised drug networks.

Published
Waddah Razzak

Nima and Sima Kamkar and Wada Razzak, all from Halesowen, were arrested by undercover officers in Gloucester city centre.

All three admitted being in possession with the intent to deal cocaine. They each received 20-month suspended sentences, for two years, at Gloucester Crown Court.

Nima, 20, and Sima, 19, live in County Park Avenue in Halesowen, while Razzak lives in Colley Lane in the same town.

The trio were stopped by Gloucestershire Police as part of a force move called Operation Tarak, which is targeting 'County Line' drug dealing.

Last month the Express & Star revealed there were 90 of the 'lines' in the West Midlands.

They are complex drug dealing networks which see city-based gangs recruit children and vulnerable adults to carry and deliver drugs in towns and villages.

The operation by Gloucestershire Police was launched in 2016 and has so far seen 70 people convicted by the courts.

The combined prison sentence for those guilty is more than 200 years.

The force says many of the drug networks stretch out to the West Midlands and London.

The runners are often vulnerable juveniles who have been recruited by being given lavish gifts including cash, phones, drugs and branded clothing.

Once recruited, the forces says it is very difficult for runners to escape the grip of these gangs.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Smith said: “I am very proud of the work done by our officers in achieving such a successful conviction rate but I want to reassure the public that the work continues.

"My teams are committed to tracing County Lines back to their origin to disrupt and dismantle them.

"We regularly travel across the UK to hunt down dealers and identify those recruiting young, vulnerable children to traffic and sell drugs.

"The dealers feel they are invisible as they live hundreds of miles away - they are not”

Police Constable Omar Patel said: "For almost two years the Force Crime Operations Team has worked tirelessly to bring County Line offenders to justice.

"We’re supported by a dedicated analytical team who ensure we have the best evidence to achieve the results we have. We are also grateful to the Courts and Judiciary.

"Prior to his retirement, Gloucester’s Judge Jamie Tabor QC took these matters very seriously, as does his successor Judge Ian Lawrie.

"With the support of the communities of Gloucestershire, partner agencies and working collaboratively with Police Forces across the UK we can continue to make Gloucestershire a place where illegal drugs will not be tolerated and County Lines dealers will not risk operating in.”