County Lines Drug Gangs Busted in Major Police Operation
Nine members from rival organised crime groups (OCGs) running County Lines drug operations in city centres have been slammed with lengthy prison sentences. The gangs, known as the Jimmy Line and Django Line, flooded the streets with Class A drugs throughout 2020 and 2021. Police seized weapons, cash, and luxury goods in a crackdown that exposed their ruthless trade.
‘Try Before Ya Buy’: Gangs Used Mass Texts to Push Drugs
The gangs used dedicated ‘drugs phone lines’ to take orders and arrange deliveries. Across the UK, gang members played various roles including supplying, sourcing, storing, or selling Class A drugs. In a bold marketing move, they sent mass texts to addicts and buyers with cheeky messages like “Try before ya buy”.
The Jimmy Line pumped hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of drugs between September 2020 and June 2021. Ryan Williams, 33, ran the operation from his lavish seven-bedroom home in Skelmersdale, Lancashire. His pal Roberts Sokolovs, 22, dubbed himself the “Latvian Pablo Escobar”, proudly bragging about their criminal exploits.
Police swooped during raids, seizing over £27,000 cash stashed in a rucksack along with various weapons. Williams’ house was stripped of criminal property including designer clothes, jewellery, handbags, and electronics. Estimated takings reached over £104,000 from their Lincoln drug deals alone.
Django Line Moves Drugs from Nottingham to Lincoln
The second group, the Django Line, trafficked drugs from stash houses in Nottingham into Lincoln’s High Street and surrounding areas. Like the Jimmy Line, they blasted coded marketing texts to addicts and customers. Police found and seized a shortened shotgun rented by Kelvin Tutani, 27, in Lincoln, as well as handguns, zombie knives, lock knives, and machetes across Nottingham properties.
Between them, they pulled in almost £20,000 from just 59 days of drug sales. All members face conspiracy to supply Class A drugs charges, with some also charged for possessing criminal property and offensive weapons.
Operation Stabilise Hits Back at Drug Crime
Superintendent Phil Baker from Lincolnshire Police said:
“Operation Stabilise was launched after intelligence showed that drug dealing in Lincoln city centre had become rampant. Dealers were even brazenly operating in the High Street during the day. Violent scuffles broke out over ‘territory’, endangering the public. We found multiple gangs and lone operators. We cracked down hard because drug crime fuels burglary, robbery, and violence.”
He added:
“These gangs show total disregard for lives ruined by their trade. While some lived lavish lifestyles splashing thousands on designer gear, they exploited vulnerable people and children. This was a massive police effort with thousands of hours spent to put these dangerous dealers behind bars. We won’t tolerate Lincolnshire as a soft target.”
The 10-month operation involved the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) and officers from several police forces including South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Lancashire, West Midlands, and British Transport Police.
Seized Haul: Guns, Drugs, Luxury Goods & Cash
- Hundreds of thousands in designer clothes and assets, plus 4 cars (subject to Proceeds of Crime hearings)
- More than £55,000 in cash confiscated
- One viable shotgun and two handguns recovered
- Half a kilo of crack cocaine and hundreds of heroin wraps seized
Altogether, the four main gangs sold at least two kilos of Class A drugs valued at £218,000 during their criminal run. One K Line member operated a wholesale supply business moving nearly five kilos of crack and heroin within two and a half months.
Gang Members Locked Up – Years Behind Bars
Sentences handed down include:
Jimmy Line
- Ryan Williams (33) – 7 years 6 months
- Kristers Sokolovs (20) – 8 years 3 months
- Keegan Mealor (20) – 6 years 11 months
- Roberts Sokolovs (22) – 6 years 2 months
- Jake Lightfoot (21) – 5 years 9 months
Django Line
- Babatunde Omotade (27) – 5 years 1 month
- Noman Hassan (25) – 4 years 4 months
- Abdi Nur (22) – 4 years 6 months
- Abdi Abdirahman (26) – 3 years 8 months
- Amber Keeley (22) – 3 years 2 months
Additional sentences, suspended terms, unpaid work orders, curfews, and rehab programmes were handed to other conspirators. Final sentencing continues early next year.
Operation’s Legacy: Protecting Communities
The police crackdown also identified three vulnerable people exploited by the gangs. Officers vow to continue fighting County Lines scourge across Lincolnshire and beyond.
This major bust shines a spotlight on the audacity of criminal gangs cashing in on the misery of addiction, and the huge police effort required to stop them.
