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15/10/2009
Drugs 'Baron' Caged
The ringleader of a criminal gang that ran a network supplying millions of pounds worth of drugs across West London has been stopped in his tracks following an intelligence led operation by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service
Sheldon Pommell, 25, from Acton, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment at Kingston Crown Court this week after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
This follows an investigation launched in February 2008, codenamed Operation Independence, which uncovered a network of drug dealers operating in West London through a mobile phone system.
Drug users would call a dedicated mobile number to order supplies.
They would then be directed to different locations, primarily in Ealing, Hounslow and Brentford, to meet a local dealer.
The man at the centre of the network was Pommell, who controlled the dedicated mobile phone and directed the drug dealers.
Drugs were sold for between £10 and £400. Police estimate the gang made between £1 - 1.5 million a year.
Another principal player in his gang, Patrick McInerney, was arrested on 23 April 2008. McInerney was responsible for answering the dedicated phone number on behalf of Pommell.
Further arrests were made in the following days. Despite this, Pommell quickly set up a new network to continue the dealing. Records show that the dedicated mobile number received over 21,000 calls between 29 February and 2 May 2008.
Pommell was arrested on 23 October 2008 and charged the following day with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
The other 13 members of his gang are currently serving a total sentence of 50 years imprisonment after they all pleaded guilty earlier this year.
Inspector David Atraghji from Territorial Support Group (TSG) said: "This is an excellent result for what has been a long and complex investigation, and I would like to commend the team for all the hard work and dedication they have put into this.
"I would also like to thank all the partners including the CPS for all the support throughout this case."
(BMcC/GK)
Sheldon Pommell, 25, from Acton, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment at Kingston Crown Court this week after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
This follows an investigation launched in February 2008, codenamed Operation Independence, which uncovered a network of drug dealers operating in West London through a mobile phone system.
Drug users would call a dedicated mobile number to order supplies.
They would then be directed to different locations, primarily in Ealing, Hounslow and Brentford, to meet a local dealer.
The man at the centre of the network was Pommell, who controlled the dedicated mobile phone and directed the drug dealers.
Drugs were sold for between £10 and £400. Police estimate the gang made between £1 - 1.5 million a year.
Another principal player in his gang, Patrick McInerney, was arrested on 23 April 2008. McInerney was responsible for answering the dedicated phone number on behalf of Pommell.
Further arrests were made in the following days. Despite this, Pommell quickly set up a new network to continue the dealing. Records show that the dedicated mobile number received over 21,000 calls between 29 February and 2 May 2008.
Pommell was arrested on 23 October 2008 and charged the following day with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
The other 13 members of his gang are currently serving a total sentence of 50 years imprisonment after they all pleaded guilty earlier this year.
Inspector David Atraghji from Territorial Support Group (TSG) said: "This is an excellent result for what has been a long and complex investigation, and I would like to commend the team for all the hard work and dedication they have put into this.
"I would also like to thank all the partners including the CPS for all the support throughout this case."
(BMcC/GK)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
