Two people from London have been charged with involvement in a county lines drugs network that channeled Class A drugs from the capital into north Hampshire.

The duo, aged 22 and 21, have both been charged with being in supply of heroin and crack cocaine, and possession with intent to supply both drugs.

The pair were arrested in London on Tuesday as part of a proactive drugs operation between the Metropolitan Police and Hampshire Constabulary, investigating a county lines operation that was run in Hart and Rushmoor between November 2020 and March 2021.

Police found a large amount of cash and mobile phones at the time of the arrest.

Mohamed Mukhtar, aged 22, of Francis Chichester Way, London has been charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine and possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

Mohammed Warsame, aged 21, of Voltaire Court, Battersea, London has been charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine, possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine and possession of criminal property.

Both have been remanded into custody and will appear at Winchester Crown Court on April 28.

--

What is county lines?

According to the National Crime Agency, County Lines is where illegal drugs are transported from one area to another, often across police and local authority boundaries (although not exclusively), usually by children or vulnerable people who are coerced into it by gangs.

The ‘County Line’ is the mobile phone line used to take the orders of drugs.

Importing areas (areas where the drugs are taken to) are reporting increased levels of violence and weapons-related crimes as a result of this trend.

A common feature in county lines drug supply is the exploitation of young and vulnerable people.

The dealers will frequently target children and adults - often with mental health or addiction problems - to act as drug runners or move cash so they can stay under the radar of law enforcement.​