Three drug dealers from Wiltshire have been sentenced to a combined total of over 13 years in prison after police dismantled a significant Class A drug supply network. The Serious Crime Organised Unit (SOCU) acted following a community tip-off that exposed the operation.
The arrested individuals include 29-year-old Ayo Awoyera from Pinehurst, 46-year-old Kenneth Brown from Raleigh Avenue, and 29-year-old Dejuan Stewart-Richards from Hackney. The trio were involved in dealing heroin and crack cocaine, substances that have caused serious harm in local communities.
The police operation began on March 5 with a raid at Middleton Close, where Awoyera was apprehended. Investigators then linked him to a second drug stash at Gresham Close, where heroin and crack cocaine were found secured in a safe. The key to the safe was discovered on Awoyera.
Brown was arrested at the Gresham Close property while in possession of Class A drugs. A mobile phone seized from him revealed the extent of the drug network. Officers also observed Awoyera transferring drugs from his Kia Rio to a BMW driven by Stewart-Richards, who had travelled from London earlier that day. When Stewart-Richards was arrested, he was found carrying £4,000 in cash, believed to be payment from Awoyera.
Further investigations uncovered a tightly connected drug supply chain running from London to Swindon, with the three men working closely to distribute heroin and crack cocaine throughout Wiltshire.
Sentencing details are as follows: Ayo Awoyera pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years and six months on September 12. Dejuan Stewart-Richards was found guilty at trial and received a 27-month sentence on the same date. Kenneth Brown also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years and six months on October 14.
Detective Constable Jared Yalden from SOCU commented, “We know the significant impact Class A drugs have on society, which is why we proactively target dealers in our communities. Besides health damage to users, the drugs spark violence and crime like shoplifting. We will keep going after the likes of Awoyera, Brown and Stewart-Richards to make Wiltshire safer for everyone.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
