‘County lines’ drug dealers jailed

THREE drug dealers have been jailed for a ‘county lines’ supply operation linking London and Barnstaple.

Esli Mazele was the ringleader of the plot to bring heroin and cocaine to North Devon. He made seven trips from the capital to the South West loaded with drugs which were then sold on the streets to local addicts.

Two other men from the South East, Glenn Ndjoli and Julian Yele, acted as runners, collecting thousands of pounds from sales which Mazele took back to London.

The three were caught by police after an investigation into Mazele’s movements between the two locations, DNA and phone analysis.

They were jailed for a combined total of more than 14 years at Exeter Crown Court.

Police made arrests at a drugs den address on December 27 last year. Ndjoli, 23, was found with 49 street deal wraps of heroin and 39 wraps of cocaine in his anus. He also had £640 in cash. His phone had been in contact with a number of local users and used to send out block advertising messages.

Yele, 23, was found with 30 wraps of cocaine and five of heroin. He tried to flush the drugs down the toilet when police raided the property. He also had £785 in drugs cash.

Mazele organised the delivery and distribution of the drugs. He was in regular contact with the two other men.

Judge David Evans said: “You are young men who seem to have been tempted by the rewards, real or imaginary, and the false glamour associated with it, to commit what you knew were offences.”