VIDEO - Two sentenced in West Sussex for County Lines drug dealing

Two more 'County Lines' drug dealers have gone to prison for cocaine and heroin offences in West Sussex, as Sussex Police continue to put dealers under increasing pressure.

Hazret Avdyli, (left in picture) 26, of Eltham Green Road, London SE9, was arrested on the balcony of a flat he had been visiting in Littlehampton trying to evade officers last October with the 'deal line' phone of what was known as the 'Joey' line, empty of a Sim card, found at his feet.

See the moment officers from the force's Specialist Enforcement Unit entered the flat and found Avdyli attempting to feign innocent puzzlement.

He pleaded guilty in February and on Wednesday 23 March was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court to four years imprisonment for being concerned in the supply of both crack cocaine and heroin in the Littlehampton area from London last year.

Abdullah Omar, (right in picture), 33, of Mountfield Road, London E15, was found guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court on Thursday 24 March of being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine in the Bognor area. He was sentenced to eight years. He had played a significant role in the running of the 'Henry' drugs line into the area from London.

Omar had only been released from prison on licence in May 2019, half way through an 11 year sentence for the same offending.

Detective Inspector Alan Pack, head of the West Sussex Community Investigation Team said; "Both these sentencings resulted from close co-operation between ourselves and colleagues in the Metropolitan Police and Surrey Police, with support from our own colleagues in the Sussex Police Specialist Enforcement Unit (SEU)."
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During the past two years co-ordinated police activity against dealers has increased, with a Surrey and Sussex Police intelligence team known as Operation Centurion, which works with London's Metropolitan Police to target and prosecute offenders of County Lines activity between the capital, Surrey and Sussex. In the 18 months since the team’s inception, they contributed to more than 140 lines being disrupted, and to arrests of more than 260 individuals across both counties.
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The work of Centurion's specialist teams includes analysis from mobile phones used by dealers to buy and sell class-A drugs. This information is critical to investigators, helping them target the most significant members of organised crime groups and ensuring longer term disruption.

Alan Pack adds: "County Line drug dealing continues to be a threat across Sussex. The force's primary concern remains the exploitation and trafficking of vulnerable adults and children and we continue to put dealers under more pressure every month."
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You can help. The best advice is to trust your instincts – if somebody shows signs of mistreatment, or a child seems to be travelling long distances or is unfamiliar with a locality, you can report suspicions to local police on 101 or online or to British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 if you see something on the railway network.
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There are also many sources of further advice and assistance to help combat the harm caused by drugs. Safe Space Sussex takes you to all the local organisations who provide support for those affected by drugs misuse.
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For further information on County Lines see the Sussex Police website.