Gang members sentenced for total of 130 years - after County Lines drugs trail led to Coalville
A total of 12 offenders were sentenced on Tuesday for their involvement in a lucrative County Lines network - which included supplying drugs to Coalville.
Gang members who flaunted their wealth while flooding communities with drugs and exploiting children across the East Midlands have been jailed for a combined 130 years.
This followed a lengthy and complex investigation by Nottinghamshire Police, who say the group was actively selling millions of pounds worth of Class A drugs 'on an industrial scale' in various towns within Nottinghamshire, as well as in neighbouring Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire.
Members of the gang sold heroin and cocaine to vulnerable addicts using bulk phone messaging and sophisticated marketing techniques.
Officers have identified 13 different drugs lines connected with the group - with Coalville as one of them.
These lines also allowed them to supply drugs in Nottinghamshire towns including Sutton-in-Ashfield, Mansfield and Hucknall, as well as Grantham and Spalding, in Lincolnshire, Long Eaton, Ripley and Ilkeston, in Derbyshire.
The BBC reported that the network was headed by Jephte Fikula and Sipho Ncube, the man spraying Dom Perignon champagne from a Rolls-Royce in a music video.
The investigation began after officers caught Ncube running away from a car crash in September 2022.
They found vital evidence on a mobile phone that he tried to throw away - it was the group's Coalville drugs line.
At Ncube's home, they seized a Rolex watch worth between £11,750 and £14,550, alongside hand-written notes about how dealing drugs could earn him up to £20,000 a week.
The gang developed a huge customer base - more than 1,400 customer numbers were identified and 33,000 bulk marketing messages were sent out.
In order to maximise their profits, the group produced their own crack cocaine and used bulking agents to increase the weight of the drugs they sold.
Some of the group armed themselves with weapons, including blank and live firearms, to safeguard their enterprise from competitors.
The police investigation also revealed the gang recruited children as young as 16 to do the dangerous work of transporting and dealing the drugs.
Nottinghamshire Police added: "While others were doing their dirty work, members of the group posed in photographs and professionally choreographed music videos flaunting their profits with expensive cars, watches and bottles of champagne."
On Tuesday (3 June) 12 offenders were in the dock to be sentenced by Judge Mark Watson.
Ncube, aged 29 - a leading member of the group who enjoyed a lavish lifestyle of Rolex watches, designer clothes and posing with bundles of cash. Hand-written notes revealed how he boasted of aiming to earn £20,000 a week from drug dealing. He was repeatedly found in possession of knives and brazen in continuing to offend despite being on bail following earlier arrests. He was jailed for 15 years
Fikula, aged 29 – Another senior and hands-on member of the group who revelled in the reputation and lifestyle drug dealing brought him. Police found firearms when they raided homes associated with him. He was jailed for 21 years
Ramone Campbell, aged 28 – Responsible for running at least one of the group's drug lines and recruited and involved a 16-year-old boy in drugs supply. He also had possession at times of the same live firing weapon as Fikula.
Kamel Mantock, aged 28 - Despite repeated arrests continued to brazenly engage in drugs supply and was engaged in multiple drug lines.
Jaysaniel Grant, aged 26 - Together with Comrie-Patterson was largely responsible for the day-to-day running of the operation in Nottingham. Lived at Bluebell Hill Road which became a major hub for the group. When the property was searched in April 2023 he was seen trying to throw away cocaine and heroin.
Aiden Farah, aged 21 - Responsible for the operation of a drug line in Long Eaton and Stapleford which distributed more than 7,000 bulk messages.
Godpraise Bouwen, aged 22 – Responsible for two of the group's most lucrative drug lines, operating in Hucknall and Spalding, and the wholesale supply of drugs. Although younger than Ncube and Fikula and less senior in the group, he had aspirations to achieve their status.
Bayleigh Reid, aged 25 – A trusted member of the group involved in the storage of items in preparation of their drugs. This included 1.5kg of powder used in the bulking and production of crack cocaine.
Gaiel Landu, aged 24 - Described as the 'quartermaster' of the group he was found to be responsible for supplying others with the drugs they needed for the day's dealing and receiving cash they had earned.
Tarell Comrie-Patterson, aged 28 - Shared day-to-day running of the Nottingham operation with Grant and 'controlled' a 16-year-old boy who was sleeping at their home and being used to transport drugs.
Laquarne Fogo, aged 20 - An habitual knife-carrier who was directly involved in the production of crack cocaine for the group and was trusted to be in control of a line operating in Sutton-in-Ashfield for a period.
Amang Kanyi, aged 25 – Convicted after trial and found to be an enthusiastic member of the group involved in the running of lines to Coalville, Mansfield and Long Eaton.
Ncube, Fikula, Campbell, Mantock, Grant, Farah, Bouwen, Reid, Landu, Comrie-Patterson, Fogo, and Kanyi were all convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Fikula was also convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possession of ammunition without a certificate.
Campbell was further convicted of possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of ammunition without a certificate.
Detective Inspector Luke Todd, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Class A drugs ruin countless lives and the trade in these substances brings misery to our communities.
"That is why we devote so many hours of police work and have specialist teams working on cases like this to disrupt and shut down drug lines.
"I'd like to thank the many officers from multiple teams who worked on this case.
"Investigating one drug line can be a complex process but 13 lines have been linked to this group, which shows the enormous scale of their operation.
"Following the sentencings, our thoughts are with the gang's many victims, both the vulnerable people they coerced into selling their drugs and the unfortunate and desperate addicts who became their customers.
"Ultimately, whole communities, both in Nottinghamshire and elsewhere, will benefit from these drug lines being identified and shut down."
County Lines is a term used to describe gangs supplying drugs to other parts of the UK using dedicated mobile phone lines.
Officers say they need the public's help to identify victims and offer them the support they need.
Det Insp Todd added: "The public are an extra set of eyes and ears for us in trying to tackle criminal gangs head-on.
"The information also allows us to engage with the young people, which is hugely important in our battle against County Lines.
"We know young people in the grip of County Lines criminals regularly use trains, buses and taxis to travel from Nottingham to other parts of the country to sell drugs.
"I would urge people to be vigilant. If you feel like there's something suspicious about another passenger in your carriage, or you're concerned that a young person is travelling on their own, please contact the police.
"Always report anything suspicious and trust your instincts – it is key to getting that message about County Lines out there."
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