County lines dealer who peddled Class A drugs into Swindon jailed

A county lines dealer from London who dealt Class A drugs into Wiltshire has been jailed for more than five years.

Following an investigation between Wiltshire Police and the Metropolitan Police, it was established that from November 20 last year to January 20, Samuel Coker, 28, of Sutherland Avenue, London, held the number for the ‘JJ’ drugs line.

Across the two months, Coker repeatedly travelled between London and Swindon, running the supply of cocaine and heroin.

On Monday, January 20, officers became concerned about the safety of a vulnerable resident in Galsworthy Close, Swindon, who it was feared was being cuckooed by Coker.

Entry was forced into the address and Coker was located attempting to barricade himself in the bathroom.

He was subsequently arrested for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

A quantity of Class A wraps was found floating in the toilet which Coker had attempted to dispose of. These were tested and found to be cocaine and heroin.

Around £1,300 in cash was discovered during the search of Coker, while the key mobile phone linked to the drugs line was found in the flat.

Coker was charged and pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, and possession of criminal property. In a hearing at Swindon Crown Court on Friday (28/03), he was jailed for five-and-a-half-years.

Swindon PC Toomey, based in the Local Policing Tasking Team, said: “County lines refers to the phone line used by organised criminal groups to deal drugs, and Coker is one such dealer.

“Evidence showed that he repeatedly travelled between London and Swindon while holding the ‘JJ’ drugs line, dealing cocaine and heroin into Swindon.

“He used multiple properties to operate from while in Swindon, cuckooing vulnerable residents at the addresses.

“This is where the criminal targets vulnerable people by establishing a relationship with them, before then offering them free drugs, or money for bills or utilities, in exchange for using their home as a base for dealing.

“It is a common tactic as part of the county lines business model and has a devastating impact on the victim and the wider community.

“Our efforts to tackle the supply and distribution of controlled drugs remains ongoing and we will leave no stone unturned to identify offenders and bring them to justice.”