Three men who ran drug lines that sent out thousands of messages flogging Class As have been jailed. The drug lines, named 'Nasty' and 'Tyrone', sent and received just over 100,000 calls and messages between December 21, 2023 and October 31 this year, a court heard.
The phones would routinely send out a series of ‘flare messages’ advertising the sale of the drugs, letting customers know substances were available for delivery.
Behind the mammoth operation was Samuel Yagoub, Zakaria Haffow and Khalid Yahya. They were eventually caught out following an investigation by GMP's specialist County Lines Team.
Messages sent out offering delivery of Class A drugs included: "TYRONE ON, TYRONE ON 24s, new STUFF" and “REAL TYRONE, BANGINGSTUFF, 24/7 DROP OFF”.
Between December 21, 2023 and October 31, 2024, the Tyrone lines received 36,131 incoming calls and 9,744 incoming messages. The lines sent out 18,834 messages and 14,816 of these were part of a flare message.
Between the same dates, the Tyrone lines received 36,131 incoming calls and 9,744 incoming messages. The lines sent out 18,834 messages - with 14,816 of these were part of a flare message.
Officers raided properties across Bolton on the morning of May 2, 2024. At Runnymede Court, two men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply drugs; participation in an organised gang; and modern slavery offences.
Haffow and Yagoub were detained/ Yagoub was found sat on a burner phone that turned out to be the Nasty drugs line. The device running the Tyrone line was also found, hidden behind a unit in the living room.
A large amount of class A drugs, crack cocaine and heroin were discovered on Yagoub. Cocaine and cannabis prepared for street deals was also discovered, alongside cash being found on both Haffow and Yagoub.
A subsequent search of Yagoub’s bedroom at his address revealed a large amount of class A drugs being seized, estimated to be in the region of £19,000.
Yahya handed himself to police a few days later after the homes were raided and was also charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin. He pleaded guilty on the morning of the trial.
Haffow and Yagoub pleaded guilty on the second day of the trial to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin and cocaine. Yahya admitted to running one of the Tyrone lines and Haffow another. Yagoub admitted to running the Nasty line.
At Manchester Crown Court on Thursday (November 7), Yagoub, 25, of Briercliffe Road, Bolton was jailed for six years; Haffrow, 21, of Beaconsfield Street, Bolton was jailed for seven years and Yahya, 22, of Netherfield Road, Bolton was jailed for four years three months.
After sentencing, PC Shaw, from GMP's Force County lines Team, said: “We have secured strong sentencings against three drug dealers who were blighting the community of Bolton. The early morning warrants were a direct result of the team’s work in tackling county lines drug supply and the exploitation of vulnerable people in the Bolton area.
“Our investigation found a network of criminality from phone data and the vast amount of drugs and cash located at the addresses and on the persons of those arrested and subsequently charged.
“Drugs investigations are complex pieces of work, but they all rely on information shared to us first by members of the public. If you have any concerns about drug supply or county lines operating in your area or feel like you have witnessed something suspicious, please do get in touch with us. You can report information to the police on 101, via gmp.police.uk, or by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”
