Two drug dealers have been jailed for their part in bringing heroin and crack cocaine to Sussex from London.
They were involved in a county line known as the “Bingo” line, supplying drugs from East London to parts of East Sussex, in particular, to users in Eastbourne.
Adnan Mayanja, 26, of Walton Road, London, and Asher Robinson, 26, of Sherrard Road, London, appeared for sentence before Recorder Ben Collins at Brighton Crown Court on Friday 9 February, having previously pleaded guilty.
Mayanja was jailed for five years and seven months for being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine and for having criminal property.
Robinson was jailed for three years being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.
The case was brought after a joint investigation by officers from Sussex Police and the Metropolitan Police.
Sussex Police said: “In June 2023, officers from Sussex Police’s Project ADDER team and from the Met Police’s Op Orochi team conducted simultaneous warrants in Eastbourne and London.
“Robinson tried to evade officers and flee his address in London, discarding mobile phones and his driving licence, but was swiftly located and arrested.
“Following examination, the discarded phones provided vital evidence that Robinson was involved in the running of the ‘Bingo’ line. Officers also located £1,600 in cash in Robinson’s address.
“Mayanja was arrested on the same day at his home address in London.
“In Eastbourne, officers conducted a warrant at an address in Northbourne Road and seized multiple mobile phones and several thousands of pounds of cash.
“Richardson was charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine and Mayanja was charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine and possession of criminal property. Both were remanded into custody.”
Sussex Police added: “County lines is the name given to drug dealing where organised criminal groups use phone lines to move and supply drugs, usually from cities into smaller towns and rural areas.
“A county line is the mobile phone line used to take the orders for drugs.
“They exploit vulnerable people, including children and those with mental health or addiction issues, by recruiting them to distribute the drugs. This is often referred to as ‘drug running’.
“Criminals may also use a vulnerable person’s home as their base of operations, known as ‘cuckooing’.
“Project ADDER (Addiction, Diversion, Disruption, Enforcement and Recovery) is a government initiative to tackle drug-related issues in Hastings through partnership working with police, council and health partners.
“The team target local gang leaders driving the drug trade while better helping people to recover from addictions.”
Investigator Julian Stokes said: “People like Mayanja and Robinson target and exploit vulnerable people in our communities.
“They are responsible for bringing harmful and dangerous drugs into our towns and this sentencing demonstrates that this will not be tolerated in Sussex.
“We continue to work hard to dismantle county lines and work closely with our partner agencies and police forces, such as the Metropolitan Police’s Op Orochi team, to do this.”
