From Merseyside Police yesterday:
Three people who exploited children to sell drugs as part of a county lines network have been sentenced today (Thursday 10 October). James O’Keefe, 23, of no fixed address, Kerry Russell, 39, of Titherington Way, Liverpool and Ruby O’Keefe, 19, of Colby Close, Liverpool were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court today (Thursday 10 October).
Officers from Merseyside’s Project Medusa, the initiative to tackle county lines drug dealing and child criminal exploitation across the country, began an investigation into James O’Keefe in November 2023. Despite being in prison for previous offences, detectives established that James O’Keefe was controlling multiple drug lines operating in Cheshire, West Mercia and Scotland, from his prison cell. https://www.merseyside.police.uk/news/merseyside/news/2024/county-lines-gang-jailed-for-exploiting-children-to-sell-drugs/
From the Liverpool Echo on the same day:
Callous’ crime gang who used children in county lines conspiracy jailed. Callous criminals will often trap young and vulnerable people with threats of violence and debt bondage. A Liverpool crime gang used vulnerable teenagers to sell drugs in Cheshire, West Mercia and Scotland. James O’Keefe, 23, controlled multiple lines from his cell at HMP Risley, roping in children to carry out risky drug-running operations on his behalf.
Kerry Russell, 39, and Ruby O’Keefe, 19, were also involved in the far-reaching drug network and the exploitation of children. All three appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, October 10, where they all pleaded guilty to four counts of Modern Day Slavery and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/callous-crime-gang-who-used-30113265
Isn’t that story newsworthy, in the public interest? Wouldn’t it be perfect for BBC Scotland’s current tabloidy style?
The above report is sadly not unusual.
From Thames Valley Police, three days ago:
Following an investigation by the Buckinghamshire Proactive Team, a drug dealer has been jailed for a drug supply offence in Aylesbury. Tyrees Kuba-Ngoma, aged 20, of Friarscroft Way, Aylesbury, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs on the second day of a trial at Aylesbury Crown Court.
Kuba-Ngoma had been identified as being involved in the supply of class A drugs between Aylesbury and Scotland, operating under the ‘Nate’ county drug line name. PC Levi Fensom of the Buckinghamshire Proactive Team North said: “Kuba-Ngoma was involved in county lines drug supply and cuckooed a vulnerable person while dealing class A drugs.
The locations in Scotland are not specified and, due to an apparent media blackout on such reports in Scotland, not elaborated in Scottish media, where ‘Scotland’s Tony Soprano’ is the only drug deal story in town.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 