A Preston man has been jailed for his role in running a sophisticated drug-running operation.
AdvertisementDaniel Olaloko was jailed for seven years after being found to ‘run the line’ for dealing heroin and crack cocaine.
The 19-year-old student, who operated from his flat in Corporation Street, in the shadow of the University of Central Lancashire, where he studied, was caught as part of Operation Titanic by Cumbria Police.
The teenager, originally from South London, was a member of the Silwood Nation drill rap group. His rapper name was ‘Trigga T’.
Olaloko and his co-conspirator Peter Adebayo, 19, of Old Lane, Manchester, acted as the headquarters for distributing drugs to Barrow-in-Furness.
Addicts would call a number to place an order for drugs in Barrow, Olaloko would receive this call in Preston and then direct others to deliver drugs to customers in Barrow.
They branded their line as ‘Nation’ and would then advertise the sale of drugs via texts to potential customers.
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Cumbria Police’s first raids took place in December last year when a property in Barrow was raided and 200 street deals of heroin and cocaine and an amount of cash were recovered.
Three of Olaloko and Adebayo’s gang were jailed after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
Lyndon Koroma, 19, of Dodson Street, Southwark, London, was jailed for five years.
John Rogers, 21, of Hawkstoke Road, Southward, was sentenced to two years and five months.
Karen McCullough, 40, of Rawlinson Street, Barrow was sentenced for 10 months.
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Police then made an arrest of Joshua Adams, 24, who was used as a drugs mule by the gang to transport heroin and cocaine from London to Barrow. They also arrest a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, from Manchester, who was also being used to transport drugs.
Following these arrests, raids by Lancashire Police in Preston and Greater Manchester Police in Manchester city centre during April, led to the arrest of Olaloko and Adebayo at their addresses in Preston and Manchester.
Detectives recovered the ‘Nation’ dealer phone at the Manchester address along with large amounts of Class A drugs.
In Preston they found large amounts of Class A drugs and articles which suggested they were being prepared for onward supply. They also recovered various bladed weapons.
After pleading guilty the four were sentenced at Burnley Crown Court on Friday (12 October).
Daniel Olaloko, 19, of Corporation Street, Preston was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Peter Adebayo, 19, of Old Lane, Manchester, was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Joshua Adams, 24, of No Fixed Abode, was sentenced to four years five months in prison.
A 17-year-old male from Manchester, was sentenced to one year six months in prison.
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A spokesperson from South Cumbria Drug Squad said: “These men operated as a sophisticated and relentless organised crime group. They targeted vulnerable people to facilitate their illegal activity and used fear and intimidation to operate their business.
“As is common with the County Lines activity a mobile phone known as ‘the line’ was used to contact users to set up deals. With extensive and good work by officers we were able to show links between the line and the offenders.
“During this operation officers not only removed drugs that were destined to be sold on the streets, but a substantial quantity of dangerous weapons were taken out of the hands of those potentially intending to use them for harm.
“This sentencing is further evidence of our commitment to tackling the County Lines drug supply model which is in use across the UK.
“The sentences handed out to these men show that this type of criminality will not be tolerated in Cumbria. Anyone found to be involved in the supply of controlled drugs should be aware that we will use all available powers available to us to make sure those committing offences are brought to justice.”
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