Three County Lines Drugs Operations Closed Down In West Sussex

Police have closed down three 'county lines' drugs operations in West Sussex in a week-long crackdown.

On Tuesday, October 4, an operation involving officers from Sussex, Surry and the Metropolitan Police joined together to make arrests in Bognor Regis and Harley in Surrey.

Three people were arrested and around 100 wraps of Class A drugs were seized, as well as mobile phones and over £2,000 in cash.

Wayne Kelly, 49, of Wish Field Drive, was charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

Raf Amankwaa-Owusu, 20, of no fixed address, was charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, possessing criminal property and possession with intent to supply crack cocaine.

Thierry Kouebitra, 24, from Bexleyheath in London, was charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

Amankwaa-Owusu was remanded in custody while Kelly and Kouebitra were released on conditional bail.

The Reeko County Line was also seized and shut down. Over the following days, two more County Lines – Alex and Zee – were shut down.

The Alex line was shut down after a Drugs Dealing Telecommunications Restriction Order (DDTRO) was served on the network provider.

The Zee line was seized on Thursday (October 6) during a search warrant at an address in Woolborough Road, Crawley.

Thirty-five-year-old Zane Ulhuq, of Woolborough Road in Crawley, was arrested and charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin. He will appear at court on November 4 after being released on conditional bail.

Officers from West Sussex’s sent a text message to all users of the Reeko, Alex and Zee County Lines explaining they had taken control of the lines and signposting them to local drugs rehabilitation services.

Detective Inspector Alan Pack said:

“County Lines drug dealing has a devastating impact on our communities and shutting down these three deal lines is a hugely positive step.

“The illegal drug trade draws many people into its orbit, with effects that ripple out into the community and fuel wider criminality.

“The decision to contact users of these deal lines is a further example of our commitment to helping vulnerable people get the help they need and we will continue to ally our enforcement approach with the safeguarding of those most at risk.”

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*County lines drug dealing is when criminals from large urban areas deal drugs in smaller areas across county borders. Drug users contact them through phone numbers – known as deal lines.

The practice is typified by violence and the exploitation of vulnerable people and children, who are often coerced into dealing drugs on behalf of gangs.

This activity was carried out as part of the national County Lines Intensification Week, which saw forces across the country take targeted action between October 3 and October 9.