A drugs gang operating in West Surrey and Hampshire has received a total of 34 years in prison after a lengthy investigation by police
Farnham: A county line drugs gang has been sentenced to a whopping 34 years in prison. They were caught dealing drugs in West Surrey and Hampshire. The police had been investigating them for months.
In March 2023, officers raided several homes in London, Surrey, and Hampshire. They arrested nine people who were later charged. All of them pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs like crack cocaine and heroin.
The sentences were handed down in court, with the last two appearing in January 2024. Ross Bannister, 30, got nine years and four months. Billy Cross, 25, received the same sentence. Abraham Musoke, 29, who was a courier, got six years and nine months.
Local controllers Paul Skabarntsky and Jamie Smith each received three years and one month. Liam Neylon got three years and nine months for his crimes in Surrey and Suffolk. Three others received two-year suspended sentences.
County Lines refers to the practice of moving drugs across police boundaries. This often leads to increased violence and crime in the areas affected. The police are working hard to tackle this issue.
The investigation was a joint effort by Surrey and Sussex Police and the Metropolitan Police. They are focused on disrupting these drug networks and protecting vulnerable people.
PC Ed Bush from the Centurion team emphasized the importance of their work. He said they are committed to finding and stopping these criminals. If anyone has information about drug dealing, they should reach out to the police or Crimestoppers.
