County lines dealer jailed for Class A drug ring

A county lines dealer who peddled cocaine and heroin into Wiltshire has been jailed for five-and-a-half years.

Samuel Coker, 28, of Sutherland Avenue in London, held the contact number for the 'JJ' drugs line and was running the operation between London and Swindon.

He would cuckoo "vulnerable residents" at multiple addresses in Swindon, bribing them with money and drugs in exchange for using their home as a base for dealing.

Coker pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin and possession of criminal property, and was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on Friday.

Coker's involvement in the operation was uncovered during an investigation between Wiltshire Police and the Metropolitan Police, beginning 20 November 2024.

On Monday 20 January, officers became concerned about the safety of a vulnerable resident in Galsworthy Close, Swindon, who it was feared was being cuckooed by Coker.

Entry was forced into the address and Coker was located attempting to barricade himself inside the bathroom.

A quantity of Class A wraps was found floating in the toilet which Coker had attempted to dispose of. These were tested and found to be cocaine and heroin.

Around £1,300 in cash was discovered during the search, while the key mobile phone linked to the drugs line was also found inside the flat.

Coker was subsequently arrested for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

Swindon PC Joanne Toomey said: "County lines refers to the phone line used by organised criminal groups to deal drugs, and Coker is one such dealer.

"Evidence showed that he repeatedly travelled between London and Swindon while holding the 'JJ' drugs line, dealing cocaine and heroin into Swindon.

"He used multiple properties to operate from while in Swindon, cuckooing vulnerable residents at the addresses.

"This is where the criminal targets vulnerable people by establishing a relationship with them, before then offering them free drugs, or money for bills or utilities, in exchange for using their home as a base for dealing.

"It is a common tactic as part of the county lines business model and has a devastating impact on the victim and the wider community.

"Our efforts to tackle the supply and distribution of controlled drugs remains ongoing and we will leave no stone unturned to identify offenders and bring them to justice."

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