Westminster drug network bust sees three jailed

Three men have been jailed in a drugs and gun bust which uncovered a network of county lines trafficking worth £23,000 per week.

In April 2021, police from the Met’s Operation Orochi team raided a house in Westminster which was believed to be being used as a drugs stash house.

Three suspects, Saed Gutale, 25, of Cholmondeley Avenue, Harlesden, Lloyd Brown, 25 of no fixed address, and Max Daniels, 19, of Orminston Grove, Shepherd’s Bush, ran out of the back of the house when they heard the officers entering.

They were caught and arrested in an alleyway behind the house.

More than £35,000 worth of cocaine and heroin was found alongside a pistol and ammunition.

Phones were found which corroborated their involvement in running the drugs line. This enabled the officers to trace a fourth suspect, who was aged 17, at his home later that same day.

He had been acting as a drugs runner.

Extensive phone communication enquiries concluded that Brown was the “line holder” of what was called the Adam line and Gutale and Daniels were the holders of the TT line.

Analysis of the two drugs lines showed that between January and April 2021, the Adam line had supplied more than 1kg of crack and heroin and the Met estimated it was worth more than £9,000 per week.

The TT line had supplied more than 2kg of crack cocaine and heroin and was worth more than £14,000 per week.

Brown and Gutale were jailed for six years for the supply of class A drugs and possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Daniels was jailed for five years for the supply of class A drugs, possession of criminal property, and possession of a firearm and ammunition.

All pleaded guilty to charges before and during trial.

PC Jack Hardwick, from the Operation Orochi team, said: “We have taken down two more lines running in and out of London.

“Our communities suffer as a result of the violence and antisocial behaviour they face in their neighbourhoods because of this criminal activity.

“The recovery of a working firearm with suitable ammunition highlights the association between drug supply, even county drug lines supplying outside of London, and violence and firearm offences on the streets of London.

“The Met will relentlessly pursue those responsible for ocunty lines drug supply, bringing them to justice for their abhorrent crimes.”

Pictured top: Saed Gutale, Lloyd Brown and Max Daniels (Picture: The Met)