A DRUG dealing gang that exploited young children in Bournemouth has been locked up for a total of nearly 40 years.
Six members of a gang dubbed themselves ‘the Hustle line’ and made “violent” rap videos where they revelled in their gang culture.
All the while they were using vulnerable children to deal thousands of pounds worth of crack cocaine and heroin to users in Bournemouth.
Husband and wife Adam Sheikh and Sarina Duggal lead the county lines group, which also included fellow spouses Saad Nur and Hafsa Khan, as well as conspiracists Lee Kitchener and Feliciano Mendes.
The six dealers, who operated out of London and Birmingham, were sentenced to a combined total of 39 years and six months in prison at Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday, June 22.
An investigation began on July 3, 2022, after a 16-year-old boy from Farnborough was arrested in Bournemouth for possessing a large quantity of crack cocaine and heroin.
The probe was then referred to the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Orochi team due to concerns the child was being used by a county lines gang.
Detectives carried out extensive analysis of communications between the offenders.
They also trawled through hours of CCTV, looking at a hotel within Bournemouth.
Four offenders, Sheikh (25), Nur (26), Khan (24) and Duggal (29) were identified as controlling the ‘Hustle’ county drug line which had operated within Bournemouth. The 16-year-old child had been working for them.
During a targeted operation in September 2022, officers arrested Kitchener and Mendes. A large quantity of crack cocaine and heroin was recovered. Additionally, another 16-year-old missing boy from Warwickshire was located within a flat in the Boscombe area of Bournemouth.
The next day, a warrant was executed in Birmingham resulting in the arrest of the line holders.
Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Fuller KC said: “This line showed determination, adapted its methods, and showed it was not to be deflected from its ambition.”
Sheikh, who was described as the ringleader of the crew, was handed a 12-year sentence.
Duggal, the court heard, came from a “good family” and had been set to study law before meeting Sheikh.
Before sentencing her to seven years imprisonment, Judge Fuller KC told her: “Your hopeful career of being a lawyer is now clearly dashed. You recognise you’ve thrown away a promising future through your choice of becoming a drug dealer.”
Nur and Khan were sentenced to eight and six years in prison respectively.
Kitchener (21) was handed a sentence of four years and six months, while Mendes (19) – described as a runner – was jailed for two years.
Detective Constable Jack Jeffries, from Met’s Op Orochi, said: “This investigation resulted in the closure of a significant county drug line supplying crack cocaine and heroin onto the streets of Bournemouth causing misery to local residents.
“In addition, two missing children from separate parts of the country were safeguarded at different times allowing appropriate support and diversion mechanisms to be put in place to help prevent them from being involved in county lines activity in the future.
“The sentences handed down today to this group demonstrates how seriously the courts take this offending and we will continue to use all available resources to combat this activity.”
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