Bravery of undercover ‘Tommo’

AN UNDERCOVER detective single-handedly helped smash an extraordinary county lines network. The officer, known as Tommo, risked his life to dismantle scores of drugs gangs, providing intelligence leading to 2 prosecutions.

Posing as a drug user, he spent six months infiltrating groups in Norwich going by names like Spade, Rico, Ninja and Pusha. One dealer was so taken in he even warned Tommo: ‘Watch out, there’s Old Bill everywhere.’ Thanks to his astonishing efforts, police were able to take out entire gangs from the lowest level street dealer to those higher up the chain.

Among those he helped to capture were addicts whose homes had been ‘cuckooed’ – taken over by gangs. Some dealers were peddling heroin and cocaine for as little as £11 at locations including school gates.