County Lines Pair Jailed for Trafficking Teens and Peddling Class A Drugs
Miss Itman Ismail, 28, from Stratford, and Omorie Nixon, 20, from Ilford, have been locked up after pleading guilty to human trafficking and drug offences. The duo exploited vulnerable teenagers to traffic heroin and crack cocaine across Devon and Cornwall.
Exploiting Missing Teens for Drug Runs
The court heard how Ismail and Nixon used four youths, two aged 15 and two aged 16, to smuggle drugs inside their bodies. Police seized thousands of pounds’ worth of heroin and crack cocaine concealed inside the teenagers. A forensic toxicologist warned if any packages had ruptured, the youngsters could have died.
Three of the youths were classed as high-risk missing children when found by officers. Ismail, who worked as a deputy manager for a care group in London, was supposed to be protecting vulnerable young people, making her crimes even more shocking.
Meticulous Police Operation Brings Criminals to Justice
The investigation by Devon & Cornwall Police, assisted by the Met Police’s Operation Orochi, tracked their constant journeys between London and the South West. The pair used multiple hire cars and stayed in Airbnbs in Plymouth and Plympton while running their drug network.
Nixon was also caught with drugs and a contraband mobile phone in prison, earning him a sentence of seven years and 10 months. Ismail received four years.
Police and Prosecutors Send Strong Message to County Lines Gangs
Detective Constable Ben Paul: “This type of criminal activity puts vulnerable youths’ lives at serious risk. These convictions send a clear message to organised crime groups that we will not tolerate exploitation in Devon and Cornwall.”
Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer: “Exploitation of children for drug dealing is modern slavery. Thanks to the dedicated police work, these young victims can now begin to rebuild their lives.”
Senior Crown Prosecutor Ann Hampshire: “This successful prosecution safeguards the victims and cracks down on criminal networks exploiting vulnerable people.”
The case marks the first County Lines-related human trafficking conviction in the region, shining a light on the ongoing battle against drug gangs targeting young people.
