A man from Somerset is among five people who have been sentenced for their involvement in a county lines operation in the South West. All five people appeared at Winchester Crown Court on January 17 after pleading guilty.
Stephen Adetoyi, from Midsomer Norton, was one of those sentenced. The 26-year-old, of Orchard Vale, was sentenced to four years in prison for being concerned in the supply of cocaine, and being concerned in the supply of cannabis in Avon and Somerset.
Jake Edmunds, 24, of Ashley Road, Salisbury was sentenced to 33 months in prison for being concerned in the supply of cocaine. Jack Roche, 28, of Pinewood Way, Salisbury, was sentenced to three years in prison for being concerned in the supply of cocaine.
Jonathan Turford, 41, of Philip Road, Wilton, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for being concerned in the supply of cocaine. Gerard Mulimbi, 21, of Broadgate, London, was sentenced to two years in prison for being concerned in supply of cocaine.
The arrests and sentencing comes after police carried out a series of warrants in Wiltshire, Avon and Somerset and London. In April 2024, police seized roughly 250g of cocaine and more than £1,500 in cash. A sixth person was also arrested last April, but has been released without charge.
Detective Sergeant Ted Roe said: “These men were clearly dealing drugs in our area and are now rightly in jail.
“Illegal drugs fill our communities with misery, suffering and fear and those who prey upon the vulnerable in our society are driven by profits; they do not care about the pain they cause.
“We will not hesitate to take robust action against those we suspect of dealing in drugs, and we welcome any information which can help bring people like these criminals to justice.”