Portsmouth man, 64, jailed for dealing cocaine and heroin as part of Class A drugs network
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
and live on Freeview channel 276
Gary Black, 64, of Tokio Road Portsmouth, was described as having a ‘significant role’ in the operation after he pleaded guilty to two counts of being involved in the supply of Class A crack cocaine and heroin.
On Tuesday he was sentenced to three years 10 months in prison after a hearing at Portsmouth Crown Court.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAlso sentenced was Stephan Gomes, 31, of Donald Road, Croydon, London who pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply cocaine and heroin and two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A crack cocaine and heroin.
He was sentenced to eight years six months in prison.
The court heard that officers seized between £20,000 and £30,000 in cash and 200 bundles of wraps suspected to be cocaine and heroin with a street value of £26,360.
One of the bundles was found to contain 280 individual wraps of cocaine with a street value of £2,800.
The arrests were made following one of the first joint investigations into county lines dealing under Op Monument - Hampshire Constabulary’s local response to tackling county lines and Operation Orochi, led by the Metropolitan Police.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdTactical lead for Hampshire Constabulary’s Drug Related Harm, chief inspector Mark Lynch, said: ‘For years a lot of the police enforcement activity that was carried out was focused on local street dealers, having little or no significant long-term impact on the organised crime elements overseeing these national and regional drug networks.
‘Since the launch of Op Monument in the New Year, by working closely with the Metropolitan police and other County Line exporting force areas across the UK, we have shifted our attention to those that run and profit from these drug lines in a methodology that improves our evidence gathering and helps create successful court results such as this.’
Det Sgt Liam Cook from Hampshire Constabulary added: ‘This is an exceptional result for what was the first joint investigation under Op Monument. Interventions and sentences of this duration have been rare and I am pleased that the determination of officers and staff from both Hampshire Constabulary and the Metropolitan Police has resulted in dismantling this network and bringing them to justice.
‘There is an undeniable link between drugs and violence and that is why disrupting the supply through County Lines is a crucial part of our work.’
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAnyone with concerns over drug-related activity is urged to contact the police.
Looking for the latest updates on Portsmouth court cases and crime? Join our Portsmouth Crime Facebook group to keep up to date.