Leon Crawford was quickly identified as controlling the line that ran drugs between Liverpool and Congleton
Hayley Parker and Cheryl Mullin
22:32, 04 Nov 2025
From left, Leon Crawford and Matthew Tyrer worked for the ‘Wez’ county line drug gang
The boss of the ‘Wez’ county line gang, which ran between Liverpool and Congleton selling crack cocaine and heroin, has been jailed. Leon Crawford, 46, helped flood a Cheshire town with drugs.
Jailed alongside him was street dealer Matthew Tyrer, who sold the gang’s Class As. Chester Crown Court heard an investigation was launched after detectives became aware of three mobile numbers sending flare messages advertising drugs for sale in Congleton.
Crawford was quickly identified as the controller of the county line, which had been operating in the Congleton area since December 2024. Tyrer was identified as Crawford’s foot soldier.
A warrant was conducted at an address on Juniper Close, Holmes Chapel, on Saturday, March 29.
Crawford and Tyrer were both arrested, and officers seized a quantity of crack cocaine, heroin, and cash, reports Cheshire Live.
A list of drug dealers and drug paraphernalia, such as scales, were also recovered from the property.
Crawford, of Green Way Close, Roby, Liverpool, has been sentenced to four years in prison.
Tyrer, 51, of no fixed abode in the Congleton area, was sentenced to four years and four months.
Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Rob Balfour, of Cheshire Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “Tyrer and Crawford thought that they could get away with bringing crack cocaine and heroin into Congleton, but they were wrong.
“I welcome the sentences handed to them, and I hope this sends a clear message that county lines activity has no place in the town. We are doing all we can to stop drug activity on our streets to make our county a safer place to live and visit while also making it extremely difficult for these gangs to operate.
“We will always act on any information about drug activity provided to us and would urge anyone who believes this activity is happening near to them, to please contact Cheshire Police.”
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