A ‘KEY’ drug dealer has been jailed for supplying crack cocaine and heroin in Coventry after police shut down an active drugs line.
At Warwick Crown Court, Samba Faal, 26, of Holmfield Road, pleaded guilty to running the drugs network and was sentenced to five years for being concerned in supplying Class A drugs.
Faal ran the illegal Class A network between April and July last year.
Officers from West Midlands Police’s County Lines Taskforce discovered bulk messages showing the availability of the ‘Menace Line’ to supply heroin and cocaine, along with prices.
Communication data found that the drugs phone line was often associated with Faal’s personal phone and location.
The line could often be traced through communication data and CCTV in an Uber booked by Faal using an account that was registered with his email and nickname ‘Smuggzy.’
CCTV footage was also retrieved showing Faal purchasing a top up for the drug line’s sim card.
Last October, officers raided an address linked to Faal, where he was arrested. A phone linked to the drugs line was also discovered following a search.
Police seized £1,000 of suspected criminal cash and several mobile phones and sim cards linked to the line. The line itself was valued at around £160,000.
Det Cons David Cockbill, from West Midlands Police’s County Lines Taskforce, said: “Faal was a key supplier of drugs in Coventry.
“Our work in bringing down drug lines across the region does not stop at enforcement.
“We continue to work with partner agencies to offer support to vulnerable people and provide long-term support.
“As ever, we couldn’t do this without information from the public and encourage you to get in touch if you have any information. You might think it’s nothing, but it could be integral to our investigation.”
