A drug dealer has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for running a County Lines operation supplying crack cocaine and heroin to users in the Dudley area.
Officers from our County Lines Task Force conducted an investigation into a drugs operation known as the ACE line back in February last year and discovered 22-year-old Zaine Hussain was the man operating it.
Hussain was sending large amounts of bulk text messages up to twice a day to mobile phone numbers in the Dudley area advertising class A drugs for sale.
The customers then made contact with the drugs line to arrange a purchase.
On 17 March last year officers from our Force CID County Lines Task Force and the Dudley Neighbourhood Task Force team executed a search warrant at Hussain’s home address in Aston Road.
Hussain had a rude awakening when we entered his home as we found him found asleep.
Next to him was a bag containing the line phone, a quantity of cash as well as 40 wraps of heroin and 82 wraps of crack cocaine.
A vehicle in the rear garden was also searched. This was found to contain a further 17.33 grams of crack cocaine and 13.3 grams of heroin.
In total drugs with an estimated street value of approximately £2,800 was recovered. It is believed that in a six week period Hussain supplied just under half a kilo of class A drugs to local users.
Hussain was jailed for four-and-a-half years this week after pleading guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court to being concerned in the supply of both crack cocaine and heroin and possession of criminal property.
DC Philip Langstone, from the Force CID County Lines investigation team, who was in charge of the investigation said: “Hussain got quite a shock as he woke to find our officers in his home and confiscating his drugs and cash.
“County Lines drug dealers target the most vulnerable, ruining lives and blighting communities. We are pleased Hussain has been taken off our streets and is now serving time behind bars.
“Serious and organised crime persistently erodes communities and the gangs ruthlessly target the most vulnerable, ruining lives and blighting communities.