A drug dealer who operated a prolific 'ghost' supply line in the Midlands has been sentenced to more than five years in prison.
Operation of the 'Ghost' Line
Reece Winter, aged 27 and of no fixed address, was the runner behind the operation which flooded the Tamworth area with advertisements for illegal substances. The line, known as the 'ghost' line, was used to peddle dangerous Class A and B drugs, including heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine, and cannabis, to local users.
Scale of the Illegal Enterprise
The sheer volume of the operation was laid bare during the police investigation. In just a two-month period between January and February of this year, the line sent out a staggering 2,800 bulk text messages advertising drugs for sale to potential customers.
Police Investigation and Arrest
Staffordshire Police's Major and Organised Crime proactive team launched a targeted probe into drug supply in Tamworth. This led to Winter's arrest in March following a search of an address in Burntwood.
Officers seized substantial evidence during the raid, including:
- Crack cocaine
- Heroin
- Cocaine
- Cannabis
- A quantity of cash
- Digital scales
Court Sentencing and Community Impact
At Stafford Crown Court on Thursday, 27 November, Winter admitted to a series of serious charges. He pleaded guilty to:
- Being concerned in the supply of heroin
- Being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine
- Possession with intent to supply cocaine
- Possession with intent to supply cannabis
- Possession of criminal property
As a result, he was handed a prison sentence of five years and one month.
Staffordshire Police stressed their ongoing commitment to dismantling drug networks that exploit addiction and vulnerability within communities. They highlighted that such operations are often linked to wider organised crime and reiterated that information from the public is vital to their investigations.
