County Lines: Birmingham heroin and crack cocaine dealer jailed

A County Lines dealer from Hall Green has been jailed for nine years after police identified a drugs hotline that issued more than 6,000 drugs sales messages in just six months.

A line was identified in 2020 – known as the MZ Line – which enquiries revealed was run by Joshua Wilson.

Police raided his flat in Stadium Road, Birmingham, in the early hours of 2 December 2020 when Wilson was arrested, the drugs hotline seized plus more than £1,000 in crumpled bank notes recovered.

Examination of his phone showed he’d sent more than 6,000 SMS messages advertising heroin and crack cocaine to his 148 customer contacts.

Police believe he sold more than a kilo of class A drugs between June and December 2020.

Wilson, aged 25, admitted drugs supply and on 24 June was jailed for nine years at Birmingham Crown Court.

Detective Constable Tom Reece from the County Lines Taskforce ran the investigation.

He said: “This was a classic County Lines model: Wilson relied on vulnerable users to carry out street deals on his behalf. They took on all the risk, including the possibility of assaults by rival dealers, while he pocketed the profits.

“We also found conversations with high end jewellers on his phone over the sale of watches valued at £20,850, £14,500 and £5,500. Wilson was driving a high-powered BMW and upon his arrest was wearing a pair of trainers valued at £495.

“Those luxuries are no use to him now though as he’ll be spending several years behind bars – and we’ll also be looking to recover any money or assets made through his dealing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

“Wilson changed the drugs line number four time in six months to try and avoid detection but ultimately he failed. We have County Lines Taskforces committed to identifying lines and bringing to justice people who exploit vulnerable people, including children, and bring misery to our communities.

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