Eight sentenced after police smash county lines drug gang in Sussex
Eight people involved in bringing Class A drugs into West Sussex have been sentenced following a lengthy operation by Sussex Police.
The gang were found to be bringing the drugs into the area from London.
In May 2018, police officers seized large amounts of crack cocaine, heroin, cash and mobile phones during raids in Bognor Regis and London.
The phones were used to deal the drugs on what was known as the 'Ghost Line'.
A 16-year-old boy from London was referred to other agencies after he was suspected of being trafficked into West Sussex in order to deliver drugs on behalf of the gang.
Daniel Olugbosun, 30, was given a total sentence of five years and six months,
Michael Olugbosun, 29, was given a Section 37 Hospital Order of detention under the Mental Health Act 1983 - both were from Blackfriars Rd, London SE1.
Amir Abrahams-Hodge, 26, of Bradgate Rd, London SE6, was given a five years and four months sentence.
Paul Penfold, 57, of Linden Rd, Bognor: Gemma Best, 33, of High St, Bognor: Darren Titus, 52, of Whyke Rd, Chichester: and Matthew Kemp, 42 of Hawthorn Rd, Bognor, were each given two years imprisonment, suspended for two years.
Paula Reddings,44, of Orchard Rd, Chichester, was given a two-year Community Order.
All defendants except Michael Olugbosun, who was unfit to plead but who was found to have committed the offence after a trial of the facts, pleaded guilty.
Detective Sergeant Jason Vickers of the West Sussex Community Investigations Team, said: “We have teams of officers and investigators whose skills are being used to disrupt organised crime groups.
"This complex investigation, of a type often unseen by the local public, demonstrates our ability to act locally and follow up with warrants and drug seizures in London, working with colleagues in the Met to prevent crime in West Sussex.
"We recognise that drug dealing seen in the community increases the fear of crime and we will continue to seek to make this area a hostile place to commit crime."