Line gang ‘Jake’ was unmasked after finding the police in the garden

Two mobile phones hidden in a front garden provided key evidence for police to dismantle a gang flooding a town with crack cocaine and heroin.

County line ‘Jake’, under investigation by officers, was supplying Wigan with class A drugs from Liverpool. Merseyside Police said Michael Moore, from Knotty Ash, played a leading role in the operation as a “controller”, sending text messages publicizing drug sales in Wigan.

He has now been jailed, along with two women from Wigan who were involved in the conspiracy. Officers from Merseyside and Greater Manchester Police collaborated on the operation to shut down the ‘Jake’ line.

READ THE FOLLOWING: He was hired to look after people, instead he raped a hospital patient in her bed

READ THE FOLLOWING: Jay Slater’s mum sent a terrifying Snapchat after he went missing in Tenerife

The gang’s activities were exposed over a four-month period from November 2023 to March this year. The operation resulted in a “significant amount of drugs” being taken off the streets of Wigan.

The information led to several warrants being executed by the police – during their searches they found the two phones hidden in a front garden which helped secure the prosecution. Moore, Natalie Devlin and Lauren Jones have been charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, crack cocaine and heroin between November 2023 and March 2024, the Manchester Evening News reports.

All three were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday (June 18). Moore, 34, of Finch Lane in Knotty Ash, was jailed for nine years for his leading role in the drug supply chain.

Devlin, 39, of Anson Place, Wigan, was given a five-year jail term with a further 12 months for breaching a suspended sentence order. Jones, 31, of Bramble Grove, Wigan, was jailed for four years.

Detective Inspector Pat Wood, of GMP’s Wigan Challenger Team, said: “Our District Intelligence Team has been working diligently to develop the information we receive about drug dealing in Wigan. What this information led us to was a drug ring operating in Merseyside and Wigan. frontier.

“Working closely with Merseyside Police, who led the investigation, our team, alongside the neighborhood team, executed several warrants in the Wigan area which led to the arrest of key members, who were convicted (on Tuesday). During these warrants we also located two phones hidden in the front garden of one of the properties which could directly prove their involvement in this drug conspiracy.

“I hope this cross-border activity demonstrates to drug-traffickers that committing crimes that cover different areas just means more people will be after you, not that you’ll fly under the radar. We remain committed to directing the supply of drugs. “

The operation was part of Project Medusa, a Merseyside-led campaign to dismantle county line drug operations and protect young people from being exploited by these criminal networks. Detective Inspector Gary Stratton, of Merseyside Police, added: “This was another big operation with GMP where Moore played a leading role in the supply of drugs between Liverpool and Wigan.”

“We are delighted that this investigation has disrupted the supply chain and taken a significant amount of drugs off the streets and beyond. Organized crime does enormous damage to our communities, often involving intimidation, violence and creating fear, and it is these criminals who run county lines.

“Drug supply is hugely damaging to our communities, often involving intimidation, violence and fear-mongering across county lines. Those involved do not pay attention to borders, so it is vital that we share information and resources to target networks, protect vulnerable people and prevent further damage.

“Criminals involved in organized crime think of no one but themselves and their criminal intent and greed. Project Medusa is dedicated to cutting these county lines and getting those who operate them off our streets and working with partners to help those who may be exploited by these gangs.”

Don’t miss the biggest and breaking stories by subscribing to the Echo Daily newsletter here