Five London men have been jailed for a combined total of 22 years over a "county lines" drug dealing operation.

The men were concerned in the organised distribution of Class A drugs, via a county line running between London and Manchester since January 1, 2021, according to the Met.

A police investigation was launched by detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Organised Crime Group syndicate.

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A number of enquiries were carried out which established that the group were operating as part of an Organised Crime Group, facilitating the supply of Class A drugs.

Those involved were regularly travelling from London to Manchester, said the Met.

They would canvas their customer base by sending bulk messages advertising drugs for sale.

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Three warrants were carried out at addresses in Manchester and Heywood where officers recovered a large quantity of drugs including heroin and cocaine.

A knife and an imitation firearm were also found at one of the properties.

Donell Shyngle, 24, Nathaniel Ofori, 23, Moses Aibamwen, 28, and Rojhat El-Sindi, 26, were arrested on November 9, 2021 at the property in Manchester.

The men were all charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin alongside Emmanuel Yamoah, 28, who was charged with the same.

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Ofori, Shyngle, Aibamwen and Yamoah pleaded guilty in November, 2021 and El-Sindi in November, 2022.

Ofori, of Tiverton Road, Hackney, was sentenced to four years' and six months' imprisonment and Shyngle, of Seven Sisters Road, Tottenham, was sentenced to five years and three months' imprisonment.

Yamoah, of Gloucester Road, and El-Sindi, of Foyle Road, both in Tottenham, will serve four years and one month and three years and four months respectively.

Aibamwen, of Avenue Road, Bexley, was sentenced to four years and ten months' imprisonment.

PC Nick Stylianou said: "This proactive operation identified that the group were dealing Class A drugs over an 11-month period, living lavish lifestyles, funded by criminality.

"The extensive work involved in the case, we hope, demonstrates our commitment to tackling this crime, which is heavily linked to exploitation and serious violence leading to untold misery.

"We are pleased with the sentences passed by the courts, and hope it acts as a deterrent to those who partake in this type of reckless behaviour.

"Those involved will face the full force of the law."

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Detective Inspector Roger Smethurst of GMPs Serious Organised Crime Group added: "No matter how coordinated you think your criminal enterprise is, police forces are actively collaborating and sharing intelligence. We will dismantle your organisation and bring you to justice.

"We know that when we seize these items or put people behind bars, that we can’t stop there.

"These people are profiting from some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and we will continue to pursue every level of criminality involved in the distribution of drugs."