Slavery Gang Ringleaders Jailed for Over 12 Years in Groundbreaking Case
Three ruthless gang members from London have been locked up for a combined total of more than 12 years for trafficking young, vulnerable victims to run drugs in Hampshire. This landmark ruling under Modern Slavery laws sends a fierce warning to criminals exploiting children for county lines drug dealing.
Gang Bosses Sentenced at Inner London Crown Court
- Michael Karemera, 25, Lewisham: 5 years for three trafficking counts.
- Dean Alford, 25, Canterbury: 4 years for two counts.
- Glodi Wabelua, 25, Tottenham: 3.5 years for one count.
All three men also face 15-year Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Orders (STPO) upon release. These tough restrictions limit their use of phones, SIM cards, and computers, and prevent them from driving with anyone under 18 except close family. They must register their addresses and devices with police.
Judge Karu praised officers Detective Inspector Simon French and PC James Skeete for their “extensive, detailed and thorough investigation.”
Investigation Exposed Brutal Exploitation of Young Victims
The Met Police’s Operation Pibera uncovered how the defendants recruited, groomed, and trafficked six victims from South London. They forced them to travel repeatedly to Portsmouth to sell class A drugs like crack cocaine and heroin on branded drug lines — ‘Duffy’, ‘Mitch’, and ‘Fly’ — handling hundreds of drug orders daily.
Acting Detective Inspector Simon French said: “These sentences send a clear message that those exploiting young and vulnerable people will face lengthy jail time and strict controls on their communications after release.”
The victims faced extreme threats. One told police he was stripped naked and had a gun pressed to his mouth when trying to quit. The gang controlled every move, lodging victims in drug user’s homes and restricting freedom to move. All drug deals and instructions came via mobile phones.
Years-Long Pursuit Ends With Justice
This case, which took five years to reach court after a key legal ruling in 2018, was backed by covert policing, DNA, and phone evidence — as victims were too frightened to testify.
Earlier, all three were convicted of conspiracy to supply drugs at Woolwich Crown Court. Sentences ranged from over six to eleven years before today’s trafficking convictions added to the punishment.
Tim Champion of the National County Lines Coordination Centre said: “Exploiting vulnerable children like this is unforgivable. Cases like this show the power of police and partners working together to protect young people and break the cycle of exploitation.”
DAC Duncan Ball, County Lines lead at the Met, added: “This is a landmark conviction. We will use every tool in the law to shut down county lines and protect those at risk.”
Specialist CPS prosecutor Kate Mulholland praised the use of modern slavery legislation and covert tactics to secure this rare victory without putting child victims through court trauma.
The message is clear: county line criminals who enslave vulnerable youths for profit will face heavy jail time and severe restrictions on their freedom.
