Three people have been jailed after they were found to be moving cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin from London.
Damarius Patterson, 21, Asharm Patterson-Louw, 27, and Lucy Pinkney, 24, were all convicted of conspiracy to supply the Class A drugs. The arrests were linked to a drug smuggling line between Worthing and the capital city.
The trio, from Lewisham and Croydon, were arrested after Patterson-Louw was found trying to wash rocks of crack cocaine down the sink.
Detective Inspector Alan Pack, of the West Sussex community investigation team, said: “Each of these offenders made huge sums of cash at the expense of an untold number of people drawn into the orbit of their county lines drug dealing, exposed to violence, exploitation and harmful substances.”
Class A drugs worth over £7,500 were found during the arrests as well as cash, drug paraphernalia and mobile phones connected to the drug trafficking line.
Nearly £1,000 in cash was found in Patterson’s kitchen sat next to a money-counting machine.
Investigations between Sussex Police and the Metropolitan Police also found that the group had gained over £100,000 each from the drug trade.
DI Pack added: “These sentences and confiscation orders should serve as a reminder that people involved in the illegal drug trade not only face significant jail sentences but will be forced to surrender the financial benefits gained through their illicit activity.
“We will continue to relentlessly pursue perpetrators of County Lines drug dealing, while working with our partners in the community to safeguard those vulnerable people most at risk of harm.”
Patterson, Patterson-Louw and Pinkney all pleaded guilty at Lewes Crown Court on December 10, 2021. The trio all pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiracy to acquire criminal property, which was ordered to lie on file.
Pinkney was sentenced to four years in jail, while Patterson was given a six-year sentence. Patterson-Louw was jailed for five years and four months.
Following further investigations by police, over £20,000 worth of illegally gained assets were also found and seized from the group.
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