County Line Drugs Gang Sentenced to 34 Years for West Surrey Operations

Farnham: A county line drugs gang has been handed a hefty 34 years in prison for their operations in West Surrey and Hampshire. This follows a detailed investigation that uncovered their activities over several years.

Back in March 2023, police raided multiple locations across London, Surrey, and Hampshire. This led to nine individuals being charged and held for their roles in the drug trade. They all eventually admitted to conspiracy charges related to supplying Class A drugs like crack cocaine and heroin.

In court, the sentences were handed down, with the last two men set to appear in January 2024. Ross Bannister, 30, from Greenwich, got nine years and four months for his involvement, plus extra time for possessing criminal property.

Billy Cross, 25, from Basildon, received the same sentence as Bannister. Abraham Musoke, 29, who acted as a courier, was sentenced to six years and nine months. Local controllers Paul Skabarntsky and Jamie Smith each got three years and one month, while Liam Neylon received a total of six and a half years for his offenses.

Three others, who were runners in the operation, received two-year suspended sentences. These county lines operations often lead to increased violence and crime in the areas they target.

The investigation was a joint effort by the police Centurion team and Operation Orochi from the Metropolitan Police. They work together to tackle these drug networks and protect communities from the harm they cause.

Now, authorities are looking into seizing any assets gained from these criminal activities under the Proceeds of Crime Act. PC Ed Bush from the Centurion team emphasized the importance of disrupting these networks, stating that they are committed to finding those involved.

Surrey Police encourages anyone with information about drug supply or vulnerable individuals to reach out. You can contact them directly or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously.