Teens Found in Crooked Drug Den After Going Missing
On 1 October 2020, police were alerted after a 15-year-old girl and her 16-year-old boyfriend vanished, failing to return home in Peterborough that afternoon.
Three days later, officers found the missing teens in Huntingdon, inside what’s believed to be a notorious “trap house” used for buying, selling, and using drugs.
Girl Forced to Smuggle Class A Drugs Upstairs
Once in police protection, the girl revealed she was forced by 25-year-old William Fernandes, aka “YF”, to stash class A drugs inside her body. Fernandes was running the operation in Huntingdon.
While in custody, the girl got threatening texts from 20-year-old Tanveer Chowdhury demanding Fernandes’ drugs back.
The teens told cops they fled home after a row and ended up at a house in Huntingdon with 42-year-old Fredrick Kufandirori, known as “Freddie”.
Upon arrival, they were picked up from the train station by 32-year-old Tahir Sheraz, aka “Snoops”. Fernandes told them they could stay at his Kings Gardens address if they dealt drugs, handing them a burner phone with the codeword “A1” – the name of his county lines drug line.
During their three days missing, the girl had to guard the stash while the boy hit the streets to make the sales.
Gang Members Locked Up After Drug Ring Crumbled
- November 2020 – Fabiana Gomes, 25, arrested for involvement in the drug ring.
- Kevin Gobey, 26, caught packaging wraps of class A at Kings Gardens.
- 7 December 2020 – Fernandes arrested; cannabis found at his home, which he claimed was bulk-buy for personal use.
On 28 February, Fernandes faced Cambridge Crown Court. He was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years for forcing labour, running a crack cocaine and heroin supply, and possessing cannabis.
Chowdhury received two years and two months for drug supply and sending threatening messages.
On 13 December, the court jailed Kufandirori (1 year 3 months), Sheraz (4 years 3 months), Gomes (3 years 7 months), and Gobey (4 years 1 month) for roles in the drug network.
Detective Warns Parents to Spot County Lines Exploitation
“We disrupted a major county lines drug racket exploiting two vulnerable children,” said Detective Constable Oliver Campbell.
“The teens were forced to carry class A drugs and faced serious threats. I urge parents and carers to learn the signs of county lines drug dealing and child exploitation, and to speak up if concerned.”
