Police Operation Puts Drug Gang Members Behind Bars

Published on: 21 Jan, 2025
Updated on: 21 Jan, 2025

Top row (from left): Ross Bannister, Billy Cross and Abraham Musoke. Bottom row (from left): Paul Skabarntsky, Jamie Smith and Liam Neylon.

Members of a drugs gang are now behind bars for their part in bringing illegal drugs into West Surrey and Hampshire.

Their sentencing concludes months of investigation by police into the drugs network, which was being operated from the Stratford area of London for several years.

Back in March 2023, police executed a series of warrants at addresses across London, Surrey and Hampshire, resulting in nine people being charged and remanded.

The investigation was jointly led by officers from the Centurion team – a specialist unit for Surrey and Sussex Police – and Operation Orochi from the Metropolitan Police.

Both teams work closely to co-ordinate the police response to intelligence about “county lines” coming into local communities.

“County Lines” are so called because they involve transporting illegal drugs from one area to another, often across police boundaries, using dedicated mobile phone lines or “deal lines”. Often the areas these drugs are taken to see an increase in levels of violence or other crimes because of the problems drugs and drug addiction bring.

After being presented with a body of evidence against them, all those charged eventually pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, namely crack cocaine and heroin.

Ross Bannister (30), from Greenwich, was sentenced to nine years and four months for being concerned in the Supply of Class A drugs and a further 27 months for possession of criminal property to run concurrently.
Billy Cross (25), from Basildon, was sentenced to nine years and four months for being concerned in the supply of Class A Drugs and 15 months for possession of criminal property to run concurrently.
Abraham Musoke (29), from Bexley in London, who acted as a courier in the network, was given six years and nine months.
Local controllers Paul Skabarntsky (29), of no fixed address, and Jamie Smith (31), from Greenwich, each received three years and one month whilst Liam Neylon (27), from Farnham, received three years and nine months for offences in Surrey and a further two and half years for similar offending in Suffolk.
Three ‘runners’, Noella Facer (50), from Farnborough, Dean Pearce (28), from Alton, and Kerry Pearce (59), from Alton, each received two-year suspended sentences.

Hearings will now take place under the Proceeds of Crime Act to seize any assets gained as a result of criminal activity.

PC Ed Bush, who is part of the Centurion team, said: “All these individuals are part of a system that preys on the vulnerable and brings nothing but misery to our communities. Everyday, we are working to identify who they are and disrupt their networks and I hope this case shows that it doesn’t matter how long it takes – we will find you.

“If you have information about someone you suspect is involved in the supply of illegal drugs or are concerned about someone vulnerable to exploitation by these gangs please contact us.”

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