County lines heroin and cocaine dealer jailed

A county lines drug dealer who ferried heroin and crack cocaine between West and North Yorkshire has been jailed.

Haqeem Hussain, 28, was sentenced to three years and six months imprisonment for his role in a drug supply network known as the AX line.

During a search of his home, police found a significant amount of wraps prepared for street-level supply as well as the dealer phone used to operate the drugs line.

Hussain, of Hunters Park Avenue, Bradford, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and was sentenced at York Crown Court on Monday.

Officers from Operation Sentry, North Yorkshire Police's team tackling serious and organised crime, received intelligence linking Hussain to the county lines network.

Police said analysis of mobile phone data showed that his personal handset was also being used as the AX line phone.

It was linked to a number of journeys from West Yorkshire to North Yorkshire during which the line was used to arrange the supply of drugs, police said.

A drugs expert found that the bulk messages sent from the AX line phone, along with subsequent conversations, related to the supply of both heroin and crack cocaine.

PC Damion Liversidge said: "Hussain believed he could travel into North Yorkshire undetected and profit from bringing drugs into our communities.

"Operation Sentry will continue to take a robust and proactive approach to disrupting and dismantling county lines drug networks."

North Yorkshire Police said Operation Sentry had dismantled 23 county lines since it was launched in September 2024.

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