A trio of drug dealers have been jailed after two county lines drug gangs were exposed. Samuel Yagoub received six years, Zakaria Haffow seven years, and Khalid Yahya was sentenced to four years and three months this week.
Mobile phone forensics showed activity levels on the devices over a five-month window that far exceeded normal usage, with a staggering count of over 123,000 events – a clear indicator of suspected drug line operations. These phones were deployed to blast out numerous ‘flare messages’ that advertised drugs, notifying buyers of their availability for delivery.
(Image: GMP)
From December 21, 2023 to October 31, 2024, records show the Tyrone line had 36,131 incoming calls, 9,744 texts, dispatched 18,834 messages, with 14,816 as part of ‘flare’ communications. Similarly, the Nasty line experienced a flood of calls and messages, having 15,679 incoming calls and a large volume of both incoming (15,312) and outgoing (5,637) messages, with 3,135 being ‘flares’.
Some messages brazenly read: “TYRONE ON, TYRONE ON 24s, new STUFF” and “REAL TYRONE, BANGINGSTUFF, 24/7 DROP OFF”. On 2 May 2024, responding to these findings, officers from our County Lines division led the charge, carrying out seven warrants in Bolton early morning, collaborating with specialist Challenger units and complex safeguarding teams, which resulted in multiple arrests.
(Image: GMP)
At Runnymede Court, two men faced apprehension under suspicion of conspiring to supply drugs, engaging in organised crime, and committing modern slavery offences. Haffow and Yagoub were apprehended, with Yagoub found sitting on a burner phone that was downloaded and proven to be the Nasty drugs line. The Tyrone line was also retrieved from the premises, concealed behind a unit in the living room.
A large quantity of class A drugs, including crack cocaine and heroin, were discovered on Yagoub. Cocaine and cannabis prepared for street deals were also found, along with cash on both Haffow and Yagoub.
(Image: GMP)
A subsequent search of Yagoub’s bedroom at his residence revealed a significant amount of class A drugs being seized, estimated to be around £19,000. Yahya surrendered himself to police a few days later following the warrants and was also charged with being involved in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.
He pleaded guilty on the morning of the trial on 28 November. Haffow and Yagoub pleaded guilty on the second day of the trial to being involved in the supply of crack cocaine, heroin and cocaine. Yahya confessed to operating one of the Tyrone lines and Haffow another. Yagoub admitted to running the Nasty line.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “We have secured strong sentencings against three drug dealers who were blighting the community of Bolton. The early morning warrants were a direct result of the team’s work in tackling county lines drug supply and the exploitation of vulnerable people in the Bolton area.
“Our investigation found a network of criminality from phone data and the vast amount of drugs and cash located at the addresses and on the persons of those arrested and subsequently charged.
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