London Dealer Nabbed and Jailed for Peddling Crack and Heroin in Great Yarmouth
Ashton Cooper, 23, from Woolwich, has been locked up for four years after pleading guilty to supplying Class A drugs in Great Yarmouth. The sentence was handed down at Norwich Crown Court on Monday, 21 September.
Crack and Heroin Supply Busted by Police
Cooper was caught in a joint sting by Norfolk Constabulary and the Metropolitan Police on 30 January 2020. The operation, named Operation Orochi, uses mobile phone data to crack down on County Lines drug networks controlling the trade.
‘LJ’ Dealer Group Line Holder Exposed
The investigation revealed Cooper ran the ‘line’ for the notorious ‘LJ’ dealer group, moving crack cocaine and heroin into Great Yarmouth between late November 2019 and January 2020. Officers uncovered over 20,500 text messages and calls on the line during that period.
Police Crack Down on County Lines Crime
Detective Sergeant Craig Bidwell, Norfolk Police’s County Lines Team, said: “This investigation is another example of how, by working together, forces are able to permanently shut down County Lines at their source.
“Line holders like Cooper are facilitating the exploitation of young people and vulnerable adults. Norfolk Police remain committed to shutting down County Lines and protecting those from the misery this type of criminality can bring.”
