Three men have been sentenced for their part in the supply of drugs in Blackburn.
In November last year, two men were in a Blue Ford Focus, which was not registered or insured to ether of them, when police officers pulled alongside them in an unmarked car.
One of the men, who was driving the car reversed and began to drive off, when he was met with a second unmarked car. He drove straight into that second car, before both men got out and ran off.
Upon searching the men and the vehicle, 61 wraps of crack cocaine were found.
Both men were detained and arrested.
As officers conducted further enquiries, it became clear that they both worked for the ‘Yanky’ drugs line.
Later, in March, officers witnessed one of them dealing drugs in the Galligreaves area of Blackburn. He then rode off on his bike. He was stopped and detained and was found to be holding a Nokia mobile phone.
He was also found to be in possession of two plastic tubs – one with crack cocaine and the other containing heroin and a knife.
That Nokia phone was found to show evidence of drugs related messages, one of which was a bulk message sent out to contacts advertising the drugs.
Enquiries into the Yanky line led policee to understand that it was being run by Jordan Russell, who was arranging transport for his runners to deal the drugs for him.
Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, the three men were charged.
Jordan Russell, 26, of no fixed address, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply a Class A drug. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 44 months.
David Watson, 52, of Town View, Blackburn, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply a Class A drug, dangerous driving, and possession of a knife. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 33 months.
Brendan Queen, 30, of Whitefield Street, Hapton, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply a Class A drug and one count of being concerned in the supply of a Class B drug. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 21 months, suspended for 24 months.
A spokeperson for Lancashire Police said: ‘’This type of criminality will not be tolerated in Lancashire, and although it isn’t our place to comment on the sentence handed down, we hope it will offer some reassurance to the public that we absolutely do take this seriously and are committed to bringing those responsible to justice.’’
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