County Lines drug dealers jailed
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Two drug dealers who supplied crack cocaine and heroin into Conwy from Manchester have been jailed.
Nathan Quinn, 28, of King Street, Bradshaw, Bolton and 21-year-old Jamie Williams, of no fixed abode, but of the Bolton area, managed the operation of a County Line drug network supplying Class A drugs into Colwyn Bay and Llandudno.
The line, operated between February and May earlier this year, sent out bulk messages to drug users on a daily basis and advertised deals including “four for 30 happy hour” to entice local users and offered discounts to new customers.
Quinn and Williams were identified by officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit as part of Operation Constantine - a covert investigation by North Wales Police into tackling County Lines operating in Conwy County.
The pair were stopped by police on May 1st after they identified a hire vehicle being driven by Quinn and Williams in Llandudno Retail Park.
They were found in possession of bladed weapons, drugs, a significant amount of cash, a false ID and a graft phone linked to the pair that was being used to run the line.
Quinn and Williams were subsequently arrested, and a search of Williams later resulted in a significant number of individual wraps of crack cocaine and heroin being seized.
Quinn was charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and driving whilst disqualified, while Williams was charged with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
The pair who admitted the offences appeared before Mold Crown Court for sentencing today (Thursday, November 21st) where Quinn was jailed for four years while Williams was handed a two year and four-month prison sentence.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Gemma Mary Smith of the Serious Organised Crime Unit said: “County lines drug dealing is linked to the most serious violence, which causes misery and fear in our communities.
“I welcome today’s sentencing and hope this case provides reassurance to the local community that we are committed to doing all we can to tackle drug-related crime in North Wales.
“Information from the public is vital in breaking down organised crime and we urge members of our communities to speak up to enable us to make North Wales the safest place to live, work and visit.
“If you have any concerns about drug dealing in your area, or you think someone could be at risk of exploitation, contact us on 101, via our website, or by anonymously calling the independent charity Crimestoppers.”