TWO drug dealers who were exploiting children as young as 13 to act as drugs runners have been jailed.

Amman Khan-Brown, aged 20 and of Sulina Road, Brixton Hill, London, and Lee Wedderman, aged 21 and of Rosslyn Road, Barking, London, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, October 21, where they were sentenced for two charges of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

Khan-Brown was sentenced to three years and two months in prison and Wedderman received a jail term of two years and two months. Both also have to pay a £190 victim surcharge.

Bournemouth Echo: Lee WeddermanLee Wedderman (Image: Dorset Police)

On Monday, May 16 2022, officers attended an address in Boscombe, where Khan-Brown and Wedderman were located and a quantity of suspected class A drugs as well as around £1,000 in cash were recovered.

Bournemouth Echo: Amaan Khan- BrownAmaan Khan- Brown (Image: Dorset Police)

The drugs were confirmed as cocaine and heroin, with a total street value estimated at more than £1,200.

Police also seized two mobile phones from the address, which were found to contain evidence that they were being used for the supply of class A drugs.

Bournemouth Echo:

Information obtained by officers indicated the two defendants were running a county line supplying class A drugs in the Bournemouth area and were exploiting children as young as 13 to act as drugs runners.

Bournemouth Echo:

The pair were arrested as part of Dorset Police's Operation Viper campaign which is aimed at tackling county lines gangs operating in Dorset.

Bournemouth Echo:

 

Inspector Nick Lee, of the BCP NET, said: “Through our investigation, which was supported by the Metropolitan Police, we were able to identify two drug dealers who played a significant role in a county lines operation in the Bournemouth area and take action against them.

“This has also ensured that we have been able to safeguard a number of vulnerable young people who were being exploited by these defendants to peddle drugs on their behalf.

“This case sends another strong message that we will not tolerate people coming into our area to operate drug supply networks in our communities and that we will take robust action against those involved.”

Anyone with information regarding the supply of drugs in their area can report it to Dorset Police by contacting www.dorset.police.uk/contact or by calling 101.

If a crime is in progress, please dial 999.

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.