End Of Road For 'County Lines' Drug Dealer

A 'County Lines' drug dealer, who used children to sell his crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis, is starting a sentence of five years and two months.

Donell Willis, 21, of Ascot Close, Northolt, west London pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to conspiring to supply drugs.

The court heard that following a rise in gang tensions the Metropolitan Police's West Area crime squad commenced an operation to target gang drug lines. 

One such line, the “Billy line” was identified from a series of requests for communications data. 

The drug line was attributed to Willis. 

It was believed that it was to control the line and use juveniles and other vulnerable people to sell drugs on behalf of the line. 

A variety of covert methods were utilised to identify the activity of Willis and his associates. 

In March officers from West Area Crime squad executed a drugs search warrant in Greenford. 

The residents of this address had been identified as conspiring with the line-holder, Willis to supply class A drugs. 

He was subsequently arrested. 

A search of the address revealed a quantity of crack cocaine, cannabis and amphetamine along with £2500 in cash. 

A total of 39g of class A drugs were recovered and 1KG of Class b including cannabis and amphetamine. 

Detective Inspector Jo Rajkovic, West Area Command said: “County lines activity has a devastating effect on young people, vulnerable adults and local communities, tackling County lines and disrupting gang activity is a priority for the West Area Proactive and Gangs teams. 

“This was a great piece of work undertaken by the Ealing Proactive Team led by ADS Smith and the officer in the case PC Mike Davey. 

“The Operation was protracted, detailed and utilised various covert methods, this is an excellent result with significant sentences imposed by the Judge.”