'SJ' county line gang members jailed for nearly 80 years

The group distributed cash and drugs between Huddersfield and Blackpool, using the so called "SJ" line, a court heard this week.

They used children as runners.

The gang members, 13 of whom have been sentenced over the past three days (with six sentenced in February of this year), were convicted after making a music video in which they rap about drugs, money and violence.

The YouTube video, which shows members of the organised crime group (OCG) using gang hand symbols, was presented to the judge during this week’s sentencing at Preston Crown Court.

Lancashire Constabulary and West Yorkshire Police launched an in-depth, cross-border operation back in 2018 to crackdown on the "SJ" line, which was fronted by Ryan Ncube, 21, from Huddersfield.

The initiative was titled "Operation Ullswater".

It formed a "County Lines" investigation, which focus on organised criminal networks who move illegal drugs around the UK.

A series of dawn raids were carried out in both counties leading to 19 members of the gang being charged with various offences in May 2019.

The court heard how the "SJ" line supplied their customers through the use of a mobile phone line, that was used to distribute drugs and cash between Huddersfield and Blackpool, using children as runners.

In total, 19 members of the group were convicted of drugs and exploitation offences, 16, of these were sent to prison.

The sentences are:

• Ryan Ncube, 21, of Scott Vale, Huddersfield was convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2 – Heroin and Crack Cocaine and arrange or facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation. Sentenced to seven and a half years.
• Tyrece Cadwell, 21, of Chestnut Street, Huddersfield was convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2- Heroin and Crack Cocaine. Sentenced to four years, six months in a young offenders institute.
• Levontay Harriot, 25/06/02 of Deighton Road, Huddersfield was convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2- Heroin and Crack Cocaine. Sentenced to two years, six months in a young offenders institute.
• Sanchez Njie, 20, of Brander Road, Leeds was convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2- Heroin and Crack Cocaine. Sentenced to five years, six months.
• Jordan Gill–Smith, 22, of Lower Grange, Huddersfield was convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2, Heroin and Crack Cocaine. Sentenced to four and a half years.
• Craig Davidson, 38, of Thomas Street, Huddersfield was convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2, Heroin and Crack Cocaine. Sentenced to six years, three months.
• Kaydee Cogan, 23 of Trafalgar Close, Huddersfield was convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2, Heroin and Crack Cocaine. Sentenced to four years, six months.
• Sharna Boaler, 24, of Harrison Street, Blackpool was convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2, Heroin and Crack Cocaine. Sentenced to four years.
• Lee Lilliman, 24, of Harrison Street, Blackpool was convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2, Heroin and Crack Cocaine. Sentenced to three years, six months.
• Dakari Brown, 19 of Bulay Road, Huddersfield was convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2 – Heroin and Crack Cocaine and Possess a controlled drug with intent to supply Heroin. Sentenced to five years, six months in a young offenders institute.
• Louis Annerville, 20 of Keldregate, Huddersfield was convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2 – Heroin and Crack Cocaine. Sentenced to three years, six months in a young offenders institute.
• Jordan Cogan, 24, of Trafalgar Close, Huddersfield was convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2 – Heroin and Crack Cocaine. Sentenced to three years, six months.
• Connor Langford, 21, of Birklands Road, Huddersfield was convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2 – Heroin and Crack Cocaine. Sentenced to five years.

Sentenced in February:

• David Sharples, 32, of Grasmere Road, Blackpool. Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2, Heroin and Crack Cocaine. Sentenced to four years. Convicted of possessing Heroin with intent to supply and possessing Crack Cocaine with intent to supply. Sentenced to 18 months consecutive.
• Stephen Hodson, 46, of Reads Avenue, Blackpool. Convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2, Heroin and Crack Cocaine. Sentenced to six years, six months.
• Adam Saunders, 46, of Grasmere Road, Blackpool. Convicted of Possessing Heroin and Crack Cocaine with intent to supply. Imprisonment 20 months. Convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2, Heroin and Crack Cocaine. Sentenced to two years three months.
• Helen Kenyon, 34, of Grasmere Road, Blackpool. Convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2, Heroin and Crack Cocaine. Community order two years.
• Adam Percival, 32, of Condor Grove, Blackpool. Convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2, Heroin and Crack Cocaine. Suspended imprisonment – 21 months.
• Suzanne Matthews, 35, of Condor Grove, Blackpool. Convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs x 2, Heroin and Crack Cocaine. Suspended imprisonment – two years.

Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Smith, of Blackpool Police, said: “Those who involve themselves in county lines criminality are not just responsible for the supply of class A drugs across the UK, they are exploiting vulnerable children and adults.

"In some cases, as with Operation Ullswater, making them travel hundreds of miles away from home in order to act as runners for the organised crime groups, placing them at significant risk of serious violence.

“Today’s result concludes a complex investigation with a lot of hard work by both the investigation team and the CPS.

"Without this dedication and expertise we would not have been able to secure these sentences today, which should send out a clear message that we will not tolerate county lines exploitation in Lancashire.

"This gang will certainly not be making any more YouTube videos while they are serving their sentences in prison.

“Our commitment to disrupting and dismantling these groups and this type of criminality alongside our partners is a priority and we will continue with these efforts to ensure we keep our communities safe.

"My message to these gangs is clear, you are not welcome in Lancashire and if you continue to conduct your criminal activities in this area then expect to be identified and arrested.

"The safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults is a priority for us all and we continue to focus our efforts on bringing anyone who exploits such individuals to justice.

"We need the public to continue to work with us to help us tackle this county lines criminality by informing us of any suspicious activity.”

Detective Superintendent Jim Griffiths of Kirklees District Police added: “This sentencing marks the culmination of a major operation with our partners at Lancashire Police to crack this significant organised crime group, headed by Huddersfield criminal Ryan NCube, and prevent it from causing huge harm in the Blackpool area.

"The joint operation has supported and dovetailed with our own ongoing work to actively target drugs gangs and dealers in Huddersfield and Kirklees through West Yorkshire Police’s Programme Precision initiative, in partnership with Kirklees CID.

"We remain absolutely committed to hunting out and targeting dealers operating within our force and working with partners to target their activities outside it, as this operation demonstrates.”

If you have any information or concerns about drug dealing in your area you can speak to a local officer, ring 101 or report information to us online on our website lancashire.police.uk/doitonline. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.

For more information on what county lines is, what is being done about it and signs to look out for click here https://www.lancashire.police.uk/help-advice/safer-communities/county-lines.