County Lines Crime Bosses Jailed in Major Crackdown
Nine gang members from Charlton, Orpington, and Catford have been slammed with jail sentences at Maidstone Crown Court for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. The notorious ‘TJ’ and ‘Alpo’ county lines networks dealt crack cocaine and heroin across Kent, Essex, and Grimsby, raking in huge cash by targeting vulnerable drug users.
Crime Ring Exposed After Lengthy Investigation
The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate led a prolonged probe, resulting in nine men and one woman being charged. The ringleaders, Kazeem Akinfolarin and Michael Odedina, both 31, received nearly 10-year prison sentences on 18 August 2021. Other key players like Andrew Huntley, Mark Downes, Peter Symonds, Romel Fregis, and Francis Sunney-Ackon were also locked up, while Batare Evwierhoma got a suspended sentence. Amy Newport awaits sentencing.
How The Drug Empire Operated
- Akinfolarin and Odedina ran the drug lines from July to December 2017, recruiting runners to flood Kent and Essex with crack and heroin.
- Fregis, Huntley, Sunney-Ackon, and Evwierhoma ran deliveries on the ‘TJ’ network.
- Downes, Symonds, and Newport pushed drugs in Grimsby as part of the ‘Alpo’ line.
- Jack Smith, previously convicted of money laundering, let his bank account be used to move cash for the gang.
- The gang stashed nearly 300 wraps each of crack and heroin in a safe at Strood.
- The initial investigation focused on Medway’s ‘TJ’ line but uncovered a sprawling network across counties.
- All suspects were arrested after multiple raids on 10 October 2018.
Sentences Handed Out
- Kazeem Akinfolarin: 9 years 8 months
- Michael Odedina: 9 years 8 months
- Andrew Huntley: 8 years 1 month
- Romel Fregis: 3 years 7 months
- Mark Downes: 3 years 1 month
- Peter Symonds: 2 years 9 months
- Francis Sunney-Ackon: 2 years 3 months
- Batare Evwierhoma: 18-month suspended sentence + 200 hours unpaid work
- Amy Newport: Sentencing due 21 September
Detective Constable Dean Sycamore said: “This was an organised criminal network which distributed and supplied crack cocaine and heroin across England, targeting vulnerable drug users in order to make significant financial gains. We estimate hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of drugs were sold.”
“Drugs devastate lives, harm families and fuel community crime. We’re relentless in tackling drug supply across Kent, Medway and beyond.”
