Members of drug gang behind bars
THREE more members of violent gangs who helped flood Macclesfield with crack cocaine and heroin have been jailed.
As reported in last week’s Express the seven factions battled to control the supply in the town but were eventually brought down by police in Operation Vulcanise.
The four main gangs were the Yardies Team, the Jay Team, the AJ Team and Junior Team.
Locations where dealing took place included South Park, Macclesfield Cemetery, the skate park in Weston, and on the canal path near Windmill
Street. On Friday three members of the Jay Team were sentenced at Chester Crown Court.
Chyna Jasper, aged 23, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin and was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment.
Fabion Wilkes, aged 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin and was sentenced to three years imprisonment.
He was already serving five years for drug offences and dangerous driving.
Nathan Wright, 28, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and was sentenced to two years imprisonment.
Wilkes and Jasper had significant roles for the Jay
Team, which would operate by sending ‘flare’ text messages informing users they were coming from Manchester to Macclesfield with drugs.
Wilkes, of Donnison Street, Manchester, would hire cars to travel into Macclesfield where he would supply crack cocaine and heroin to users. Both he and Jasper, of Wilbraham Road, Manchester, were caught directly supplying undercover officers with drugs. On one occasion Wilkes tried to flee in his BMW, driving through a red light and onto a pavement next to a bus stop.
He was caught and arrested outside Macclesfield Football Club, being found with enough drugs to sell to between 50 to 80 people and a phone that had sent 78 flare messages that day. Wright, of Middleton Road, Manchester, was also a member of the Jay Team.
Police and Crime Commissioner, David Keane, said: “County lines drugs activity can have a devastating effect on our communities.
“Residents should feel safe in their home town and not feel bullied or threatened by violent offenders inflicting havoc on their community.
“The hard work and determination of the detectives who worked on this case has made Macclesfield a safer place and has ensured that dangerous gangs have been taken off Cheshire’s streets.” The sentences takes the total handed out to the drug gangs to 118 years and 10 months.
Between them they had left people in some areas of Macclesfield scared to go outside. Residents reported weapons being brandished, a gun being fired and machete attacks as the rival dealers tried to mark their turf.