Black Country county lines gang jailed for more than 40 years
The Walsall-based gang supplied drugs to Shropshire and Blackpool.
Last updated 15th Apr 2024
A criminal gang which ran two Class A County Lines drugs lines from the Black Country to Blackpool and Telford while exploiting vulnerable members of the community has been jailed for a combined total of more than 40 years.
The ‘Avon Line’ supplied crack cocaine to Telford in Shropshire, while the ‘Blacky Line’ supplied the popular coastal resort of Blackpool in Lancashire.
The drugs lines, operating from Tipton and Walsall, were run over a three year period between 2018 and 2021. It’s estimated that during that time the gang sold more than 10kg of Class A drugs including heroin and crack cocaine with a street value of over £1 million.
The major operation to disrupt the gang is part of Operation Target, which tackles serious and organised criminals around the Midlands.
It focuses on those involved in drugs, guns and other high-level criminal enterprises.
The 10-strong gang County Lines gang was led by Sylvanus Coker and Tobeijah Atkinson. They directed, organised and controlled the lines, and employed members of their gang to peddle drugs to the communities of Telford and Blackpool.
At Birmingham Crown Court last week 10 of the gang were sentenced for their roles in the drugs enterprise. Coker was jailed for 15 years and six months and Atkinson was given nine years.
The ‘Avon Line’ was discovered when police stopped a BMW on the M54 on June 14, 2018. Inside, officers found 47 wraps of cocaine and 17 wraps of heroin, along with two mobile phones linked to the line.
A week later, West Mercia Police stopped and searched a man who was a passenger in a private hire vehicle travelling into Telford. He was found with 32 wraps of crack cocaine and 12 wraps of heroin. Officers also seized a Nokia mobile phone which contained incoming messages from the ‘Avon line’ advertising drugs for sale.
Detectives from the West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit (WMROCU) seized significant amounts of Class A drugs as part of the investigation, and the suspects were arrested in February, 2021.
Phone evidence including the recovery of devices and SIM cards for both of the drugs lines were crucial in proving the guilt of the gang members.
The ‘Blacky Line’ was predominantly run from the Walsall area with mobile phone evidence showing links between Coker and some of his accomplices.
Phones used for the ‘Blacky Line’ were also linked to the gang members and text messages recovered further supported the use of this number as a drugs line.
DC Christopher Bradley, from WMROCU, said: “Led by Coker and Atkinson, the gang peddled heroin and crack cocaine worth £1 million into communities in Telford and Blackpool.
“There they targeted the most vulnerable, ruining lives and blighting communities. We are pleased this gang has been taken off our streets and are now spending time behind bars
People with information about County Lines drug dealing should contact us via Live Chat on our website or by calling 101. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Operation Target sees us taking a defiant stand against a range of serious and organised crime offences – from drug dealing and burglary to cyber crime and fraud.
- Sylvanus Coker, aged 44, from Walsall – 15 years and six months after being found guilty of conspiracy to supplying heroin and cocaine.
- Tobeijah Atkinson, aged 38, from Tipton – nine years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supplying heroin and cocaine.
- Dean Groom, aged 30, from Dudley – two years three months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supplying heroin and cocaine.
- Benjamin Davies, aged 32, from Wolverhampton – seven years and eight months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supplying heroin and cocaine.
- Joshua Reynolds, aged 23, from West Bromwich – three years and six months after being found guilty of conspiracy to supplying heroin and cocaine.
- Kahdel Henry, aged 30, from Tipton - six years and three months after being found guilty of conspiracy to supplying heroin and cocaine.
- Scott Louden, aged 45, from Wolverhampton – five years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supplying heroin and cocaine.
- Stephen Wright, aged 38, from Tipton – two years and six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supplying heroin and cocaine.
- Ayomide Ogunbodede, aged 24, from Wolverhampton – five years and one month after pleading guilty to supplying heroin and cocaine.
- Rachel Wiley, aged 42, from Willenhall – Will be sentenced at a later date.