County lines drugs gang who ran heroin and crack into Blackpool jailed

Members of a county lines drugs gang who ran heroin and crack into Blackpool have been jailed for more than 20 years.

The ‘Scooter’ OCG group used the train network and various cars to move large volumes of drugs from Manchester into Blackpool. They would set up in hotel rooms, from where they distributed their drugs.

But the gang was taken down after an investigation codenamed Operation Banshee led by the Project Adder team based at Blackpool Police Station.

As part of the investigation officers seized Crack Cocaine and Heroin with a street value of £12,500.

£3,500 in cash, a machete, two knives, 22 mobile phones, designer clothing and jewellery were also recovered. 

Project Adder was established in Blackpool in January 2021 as a joint project between the Home Office and Public Health, with Blackpool being one of four pilot sites receiving £1.1 million of investment.

Project Adder involves a trauma informed approach to tackling Class A drug use. It seeks to identify the issues at the root of addiction. It seeks to offer support and treatment ahead of prosecution for those suffering addiction. Whilst these people are being offered support, the police team look to target those supplying the most harmful drugs in the town. The team try to provide the environment where help can be found without the persistent threat of further gangs selling drugs in the area.

PC Rachel Plant, of the Project Adder team, said: “This is a great result and should show how committed we are to taking drug dealers off the streets while offering support to those suffering as a result of drug misuse”.

“This gang exploited vulnerable members of the community for their own financial gain, they do not care about the consequences their actions have on those to whom they supply, or the effects it has on our town”.

“Project Adder is a multi-agency approach to improving the lives of families in Blackpool. We will continue to work towards improving the outcomes for those suffering from addiction, whilst tackling the associated problems that this destructive activity has on the community”.

If you have information about drug supply in your area, please let us know. You can call us on 101, report what you know online at doitonline.lancashire.police.uk or you can report information in the strictest confidence to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.

The final members of the gang were sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Friday, September 22.

Those sentenced are:

Ian ANGUS, 37, of Cornwall Drive, Bury, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A crack cocaine and heroin. He is believed to be the gang leader in partnership with his younger brother. He was sentenced to 6years and 9 months.

Ryan ANGUS, 35, of Allesley Drive, Salford, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A crack cocaine and heroin. He is the younger brother of Ian Angus. He was sentenced to 6 years and 9 months. 

Roxanne SMETHURST, 34, of Cornwall Drive, Bury, who was found guilty of Conspiracy to supply class A crack cocaine and heroin. She is the partner of Ian Angus who was the gang leader of the group. She was sentenced to 5 years.

Luis Fonsecca, 31, NFA, who pleaded guilty of conspiracy to supply class A crack cocaine and heroin. He was sentenced to 2 years.

Mustafa MOHAMUD, 23, NFA, who pleaded guilty of conspiracy to supply class A crack cocaine and heroin. He was sentenced to 18 months.

Mohammed ABDALLA, 20, of Kendrew Road, Bolton, who pleaded guilty of conspiracy to supply class A crack cocaine and heroin. He was sentenced to 18 months.