West Yorkshire ‘County Lines’ drug dealer snared by Expedite Team in Scarborough

Another ‘County Lines’ drug dealer has been brought to justice thanks to our  Expedite Team in Scarborough.

Dakari Brown, aged 22, of Bulay Road, Huddersfield, appeared at Leeds Crown Court on 26 July after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin between Huddersfield and the North Yorkshire coastal town.

He was sentenced to 5 years and 9 months in jail.

Background to the investigation

In February 2023, it was identified that a drugs line calling themselves the ‘Mitch’ line was active in Scarborough offering heroin and crack cocaine for sale daily by sending bulk messages to local drug users.

It was established the ‘Mitch’ deal line was being held in Huddersfield and was directing individuals who had embedded themselves in the town with local class A drug users, a tactic known as cuckooing.

Several arrests were made during this period of different individuals who could be linked to contact and direction from the ‘Mitch’ line.

The Expedite Team were able to identify Brown as the individual running the line from Huddersfield through top-ups, co-location of his personal phone, and the deal line and trips made to Scarborough.

In conjunction with West Yorkshire Police, Brown was arrested in March at his home address where evidence was recovered linking him to the deal phone and the ‘Mitch’ line.

Detective Constable Darrel Temple, of the Expedite Team based at Scarborough, said:

“Class A drugs wreck lives and wreck communities. That’s why we’re relentless in our pursuit of offenders such as Dakari Brown who think they can operate with impunity across policing borders and into our neighbourhoods.

“As we have repeatedly demonstrated, we’re watching their every move and waiting for the right time to pounce.

“Through this proactive policing approach, we’re taking the fight to drug dealers and doing all we can to drive drug-related crime out of our area.”

Reporting information about drug-related crime

• Anyone with any information about suspected drug-related crime are urged to make a report via the North Yorkshire Police website or by calling 101, select option 1, and speak to the Force Control Room
• Always dial 999 if an emergency response is required
• If you would prefer to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or make a report online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

The signs of drug dealing can include

• Increased callers at a property at all times of the day or night
• Increase in cars pulling up for short periods of time
• Different accents at a property
• Anti-social behaviour at a property
• Not seeing the resident for long periods of time
• Drug-related rubbish – small plastic bags, syringes
• Windows covered or curtains closed for long periods

Get professional support for drug-related issues

• Drink Drug Hub website drinkdrughub.co.uk
• North Yorkshire Rise – young people's specialist drug and alcohol service- freephone 08000 14 14 80 (option 2) – humankindcharity.org.uk/service/nyrise/
• North Yorkshire Horizons - adult specialist drug and alcohol service - freephone 08000 14 14 80 – nyhorizons.org.uk/
• City of York Drug and Alcohol Service - 01904 464 680 – changing-lives.org.uk/services/drug-alcohol/york-drug-alcohol-support-services/
• NHS – https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/drug-addiction-getting-help/
• FRANK helpline and information - https://www.talktofrank.com/