County Lines Drug Gang Boss Jailed: Teens Exploited to Peddle Class A in Loughborough
County Lines gangs rig up dedicated mobile phone lines to push drugs across the UK. These ruthless crews often exploit vulnerable kids and adults to move and stash their stash. The “line” is the hotline for orders.
Teen Kingpin Ran Heroin & Crack Route Between Nottingham and Loughborough
Makki Raja, just 18, controlled a County Line operation moving heroin and crack cocaine between Nottingham and Loughborough. He trafficked two young boys from Nottingham into Leicestershire to sell Class A drugs for him.
Living in Nottingham’s Sneinton, Raja recruited these teens to sell hard drugs from a base on Victoria Street, Loughborough. He even booked taxis to ferry them there, coordinating sales through constant phone contact.
£200-a-Day Workers Delivered Drugs via Mass Texts to Local Users
Raja paid the boys £200 daily for delivering Class A to local users he bombarded with mass marketing messages via his phone. His operation was backed by 33-year-old David Bellis from Loughborough, who helped run the Victoria Street hub and delivered drugs himself.
Bellis showed the recruited teens where to deal in town and stayed at the address regularly. A 17-year-old boy also got caught up in the County Line network, with a limited role but involved in recruiting others.
Courts Clamp Down After Lengthy Police Probe
All three — Raja, Bellis, and the 17-year-old — faced Nottingham Crown Court on 12 February 2024 following a complex investigation that started in 2022.
- Raja pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between December 2022 and February 2023 and exploiting a minor’s travel. He also admitted involvement in cannabis supply.
- The teen boss was slapped with a four-year sentence at a young offenders’ institute.
- Bellis pleaded guilty to similar charges and was jailed for two years and nine months.
- The 17-year-old admitted conspiracy to supply Class A and cannabis, receiving a three-year youth rehab order plus a three-month curfew monitored electronically.
This case highlights the brutal exploitation behind County Lines drug networks, crushing young lives for profit.
