A Met investigation into a drugs line from London to Dundee has resulted in a gang of four men being jailed for more than 14 years and a missing child safeguarded.
Extensive phone enquiries and a fast-paced joint operation led officers to locate and safeguard the teenager only two days after he was reported missing.
Detective Constable Jamie Helps from Operation Orochi, said: “This sentence sends a message to drug dealers that Op Orochi has no borders and we will work relentlessly with our colleagues across the UK to bring you to justice.”
“Drugs devastate communities and destroy lives, but these men did not care about this as long as they made money. The public may believe that county lines does not have a wider impact on communities, but the consequences of this type of criminality should not be underestimated.”
The investigation began on the 14 November 2022 after local officers raised their concerns of a missing 16-year-old child to the Op Orochi team.
Extensive enquiries uncovered that the child had travelled from Croydon to Dundee, Scotland on the 7 November 2022. It was then discovered that the four men had also travelled to Dundee around the same time.
Officers from Op Orochi swiftly deployed to Dundee and began the proactive operation with Police Scotland’s Serious and Organised Crime Team.
On 16 November 2022, Davey was arrested on Strathmartine Road, Dundee. He was found in possession of 100 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin.
Whilst being arrested, Davey began shouting to alert Newman who was in a nearby address. The secondary address on Strathmartine Road was identified and Newman was arrested in possession of an active class A drugs line.
The address was ‘cuckooed’ and the missing 16-year-old child from London was found. Police also seized knives and class A drugs from the address.
These arrests and further telecommunication data lead officers to an address on Monifieth Road, Dundee. Both Paul and Nwadire were located in the address and arrested. Paul attempted to evade police by climbing out of the window.
Further weapons and money were recovered from the address. The phones found during the course of the investigation showed that Paul was the head of the group. He directed the other men and had conducted extensive research on Dundee before travelling there.
Detective Inspector Scott Carswell of Police Scotland’s Serious and Organised Crime Team, said: “Human trafficking is a despicable crime and I acknowledge today’s sentencing.
“These types of crimes have a long term impact on the victims and we are committed to working with our partners to identify those responsible and help protect the victims.
“I would like to thank all our partners, including the Metropolitan Police for their work during this investigation.”
On Tuesday, 27 June at Woolwich Crown Court:
[A] Malik Paul, 26 (27.03.97), of Dynevor Road, Hackney was sentenced to five years’ and four months imprisonment.
[B] Michael Nwadire, 28 (11.10.94), of Balmore Crescent, Barnet was sentenced to three years imprisonment.
[C] Dylan Newman, 21 (05.10.01), of no fixed address, was sentenced to three years imprisonment.
[D] Ellis Davey, 22 (25.06.01), of Springfield Avenue, Merton was sentenced to three years imprisonment.
Paul and Nwadire plead guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, 3 March 2023. Davey and Newman plead guilty on the same court on Monday, 17 April 2023.
The investigation was carried out by officers from Op Orochi, the Met’s Specialist Crime team dedicated to tackling high harm offenders involved in county lines drugs supply. It proactively targets London-based line holders, working in partnership with importing county forces.
+The teenager was not prosecuted and were safeguarded and instead, referred to Children’s Services from respective local authorities and the Single Competent Authority/National Referral Mechanism.
Since 1 April 2022 Orochi, working closely with Rescue and Response, have conducted 23 operations, rescuing 33 children from County Lines and charged 31 individuals with modern slavery offences.
Useful links
- Rescue and Response | Abianda is a pan-London service that supports London young people aged up to 25 who are involved in or affected by county lines activity.
- Catch 22 is a specialist support and rescue service for young people and their families who are criminally exploited through county lines.
- #LookCloser is a partnership campaign between The Children’s Society, the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre and the British Transport Police, encouraging everyone to learn the signs of child exploitation and how to report it if worried, including here on their anonymous online form. The campaign also seeks to highlight that child exploitation can happen anywhere, and any young person can be a victim. Find out more at the campaign webpage.
- The SafeCall service, run by charity Missing People, offers confidential, non-judgemental support to young people and their families.
- Victim Support is an independent charity in England and Wales that provides specialist practical and emotional support to victims and witnesses of crime.
- For more advice on drugs, their effects and the law, talk to Frank.
- The Home Office also provides guidance for frontline professionals on dealing with County Lines, as a part of the government’s approach to ending gang violence and exploitation. Click here to see details of their advice.
