Three ruthless gang members from London have been sentenced to a combined total of more than 12 years in prison for trafficking young, vulnerable victims to run drugs in Hampshire. This landmark ruling under Modern Slavery laws sends a strong warning to criminals exploiting children for county lines drug dealing.
The gang bosses were sentenced at Inner London Crown Court as follows: Michael Karemera, 25, from Lewisham, received 5 years for three trafficking counts; Dean Alford, 25, from Canterbury, was sentenced to 4 years for two counts; and Glodi Wabelua, 25, from Tottenham, was given 3.5 years for one count.
All three men will also be subject to 15-year Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Orders (STPO) upon their release. These orders impose strict limitations on their use of phones, SIM cards, and computers, and prohibit them from driving with anyone under 18 except close family members. They must also register their addresses and devices with the police.
Judge Karu praised the police officers involved, Detective Inspector Simon French and PC James Skeete, for their “extensive, detailed and thorough investigation.”
The Metropolitan Police’s Operation Pibera revealed how the defendants recruited, groomed, and trafficked six victims from South London. The victims were forced to travel repeatedly to Portsmouth to sell class A drugs such as crack cocaine and heroin on branded drug lines known as ‘Duffy’, ‘Mitch’, and ‘Fly’, handling hundreds of drug orders daily.
Acting Detective Inspector Simon French stated: “These sentences send a clear message that those exploiting young and vulnerable people will face lengthy jail time and strict controls on their communications after release.”
The victims endured extreme threats; one victim told police he was stripped naked and had a gun pressed to his mouth when attempting to quit. The gang controlled every aspect of their lives, lodging victims in drug users’ homes and restricting their freedom of movement. All drug deals and instructions were communicated via mobile phones.
The case took five years to reach court following a key legal ruling in 2018 and was supported by covert policing, DNA evidence, and phone data, as the victims were too frightened to testify. Previously, all three men were convicted of conspiracy to supply drugs at Woolwich Crown Court, receiving sentences ranging from over six to eleven years before the trafficking convictions were added.
Tim Champion of the National County Lines Coordination Centre commented: “Exploiting vulnerable children like this is unforgivable. Cases like this show the power of police and partners working together to protect young people and break the cycle of exploitation.”
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Duncan Ball, County Lines lead at the Metropolitan Police, added: “This is a landmark conviction. We will use every tool in the law to shut down county lines and protect those at risk.”
Specialist CPS prosecutor Kate Mulholland praised the use of modern slavery legislation and covert tactics to secure this rare victory without subjecting child victims to court trauma. The message is clear: county lines criminals who enslave vulnerable youths for profit will face heavy jail time and severe restrictions on their freedom.
Originally published by UKNIP.
