Elyas Patel successful in defence of alleged “county lines” drugs conspirator

Elyas Patel was instructed by Usama Patel, of Good & Co Solicitors, to represent a young family man of good character alleged to have been a co-conspirator within a ‘county lines’ drugs team from Leeds, operating a lucrative Class A (Heroin and Cocaine) street dealing business within the Scarborough area.

The Prosecution alleged that the Defendant was one of a team of six supplying heroin and cocaine to users in Scarborough during a 4 months period in 2017.

The targeted Police operation uncovered the teams: Scarborough accommodation base; motor vehicles; significant quantities of Class A drugs; drugs paraphernalia and hub mobile phones used to send out block messages to thousands of recipients. A number of the Defendants were caught on CCTV making street supplies during the period of the conspiracy. Bank accounts in the name of the partner of the alleged ringleader also revealed thousands of pounds in cash being deposited in and around banks in Scarborough before the money was systematically and shortly thereafter, withdrawn from Cash Machines in the Leeds area.

The Defendant himself had been arrested in Scarborough with the alleged ‘kingpin’ of the operation whilst allegedly, carrying out mobile drug deliveries. The car in which the 2 men had travelled to Scarborough from Leeds was found to contain hundreds of wraps of class A drugs including scales, cling film and bank deposit receipts.

3 of the team pleaded guilty prior to the start of the Trial. The remaining 3 had their Trial at York Crown Court and after a Trial lasting 8 days Elyas’s client was the only Defendant acquitted (unanimously) of all involvement.