‘Ghost’ Tamworth drug line runner jailed

The runner of the ‘ghost’ drug line in Tamworth has been jailed for more than five years.

Reece Winter, 27, of no fixed address, has been sentenced to five-years-and-one-month in prison at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday (27 November) after he admitted 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 and possession of criminal property.

Our major and organised crime proactive team arrested Winter in March this year following an investigation into the supply of drugs in the Tamworth area. He was arrested following a search of an address in Burntwood, where officers found crack cocaine, heroin, cocaine, cannabis, cash and digital scales.

The drug line which Winter had been using to advertise the drugs was found to have sent more than 2,800 messages between January and February.

After being charged with the offences, he pleaded guilty at an earlier court hearing.

We’re working hard in Staffordshire to bring a stop to the drug networks that are profiting from addiction and vulnerability in local communities. These networks often coerce vulnerable local people into selling the drugs on their behalf and are often linked to further organised crime.

It is vital that anyone who witnesses drug dealing reports it to us so that we can act robustly against the criminals involved.

Call 101, or use Live Chat on our website.

If you want to stay anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Tell them what you know, not who you are.