Two men were jailed for a combined total of 6 years and 8 months at Portsmouth Crown Court for their part in a ‘county line’ drugs gang operating between Harlesden and Portsmouth.
Emmanuel Ohenebeng, aged 23, of Sellons Avenue in London was jailed for 4 years after he had previously admitted being concerned in the supply of, and possession with intent to supply, crack cocaine and heroin.
Dylan Clarke, aged 21, of Sellons Avenue in London was jailed for 32 months for being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.
The investigation into the ‘Ghost’ county line was led by Hampshire & IOW Constabulary’s Operation Monument team with support from the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Orochi team, which specialises in investigations into ‘county lines’ linked to London.
‘County line’ refers to when drug gangs from major cities set up networks in regional areas and use vulnerable people and children to carry, store and sell their drugs for them. The line refers to the phone line being used.
Officers investigating the supply of drugs into Portsmouth had carried out enquiries that indicated Ohenebeng was the primary ‘Ghost’ line holder from May 2023 onwards with support from Clarke. Officers were concerned about the county line as it was potentially linked to four non-fatal drug overdoses in the city. On Monday 10 July CCTV enquiries led to an address at Nickleby House on All Saints Road in Portsmouth. Ohenebeng was spotted in the building. Officers then attended a flat and arrested Clarke. Whilst searching the flat a large amount of Class A drugs, with an approximate street value of £35,000 were located within a void in the bathroom along with a bag containing £6,520. In the kitchen, a large quantity of heroin, a large Rambo knife, and other drug preparation items were located in a drawer. A number of mobile phones were also seized during the investigation linked to the ‘Ghost’ Network.
The investigating officer from the Eastern Serious and Organised Crime Unit said: “Our work with partners like the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Orochi Team and Public Health England, along with the Neighbourhood Policing Team closed this ‘county line’ completely. Today’s sentence sends a clear message to people like Ohenebeng and Clarke that we will not tolerate the supply of drugs in Portsmouth. We will relentlessly pursue you until you face a day in court if you take part in similar activities.
“Drug supply causes harm and misery to our communities and we will continue disrupting it and making sure that our city is a hostile environment for drug dealers to operate in.
“We encourage anyone who suspects drug-related activity to be taking place in their neighbourhood to report it to us. Every piece of information helps us to build a stronger intelligence picture and allows us to take action.”
