Blackburn drug dealer jailed and appeal issued for whereabouts of wanted men

A Blackburn drug dealer has been jailed – as police issue a fresh appeal to trace two other men wanted as part of the same investigation.

Lancashire Police said 23-year-old Josh Lane, of Pelham Street, directed street-level dealing while attempting to distance himself from the criminal activity.

Lane was convicted following a trial at Preston Crown Court, and was sentenced to three years and six months in prison.

Agris Matulevics and Romeo Kozlovskis (middle and right of image),are still wanted as part of their ongoing investigation.

On 30^th January 2025 officers from the East Proactive Targeting Team witnessed a blue Seat Leon drive onto a carpark behind the Coral bookmakers on Bank Top. The parties then engaged in a drug deal.

Both the occupants of the Leon were arrested later the same day on suspicion of possessing with intent to supply class A drugs. One of those individuals was Matulevics.

Matulevics’ mobile phone was examined and messages were recovered showing he was being directed where and when to deal drugs by Lane.

On 9^th April Lane was arrested at his home in Blackburn on suspicion of conspiring to supply class A.

Lane was searched and officers seized a mobile phone. Enquiries found Lane had recently changed his number but we still managed to recover a series of incriminating messages. In one, he told a contact to change his mobile number because he was paranoid about the police.

During a search of Lane’s house, police found a tub containing traces of cocaine in the kitchen, hundreds of pounds of cash, a number of mobile phones and  a black extendable ASP.

Matulevics, 33, of Higson Street, Blackburn, was charged with possession with intent to supply crack cocaine. He admitted the offence but failed to attend court for sentencing and a warrant has now been issued for his arrest.

DC Tom Archer, from our East Proactive Targeting Team, said: “We know the impact drug-dealing has on our local communities and we want to make it clear that our officers are out on the streets every day tackling it.

“Lane and Matulevics targeted vulnerable members of the community with the aim of making what they thought would be easy money. However, actions have consequences, and I am pleased Lane has now been jailed. I would also ask for anyone with information on the whereabouts of Matulevics to make contact with the police as soon as possible.

“If you are aware of criminal activity in your area please call 101 or report it via https://doitonline.lancashire.police.uk/PEDisclaimer/Create in the confidence that we will take the appropriate action and do everything in our powers to put the offenders before the courts.”

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Agris Matulevics or Romeo Kozlovskis is asked to call 101 and quote log 585 of 30^th January 2025. For immediate sightings call 999.

Independent charity Crimestoppers can also be contacted on 0800 555111.