The JJ line was used to peddle drugs between Salford and Buxton
The gang members have all been jailed(Image: Derbyshire Constabulary)
Callous members of a drugs gang exploited vulnerable people and used their homes as bases to peddle drugs across Manchester and Derbyshire.
The group dealt heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine and have now collectively been jailed for a combined total of more than 33 years. Officers identified the JJ Line – a county line drug dealing operation – which was being used to supply Class A drugs between Salford and Buxton between November 2023 and August 2024.
Niall Fisher was identified as the controller of the criminal enterprise, whilst Dale O’Sullivan was the organiser, a court heard. They had several other gang members working under them as drug runners, line holders and drivers.
Derbyshire Police said they exploited vulnerable people by using their homes as bases from which to deal drugs – an illegal practice known as cuckooing. They sold the drugs by sending out mass marketing messages via line telephone numbers.
Drug users would then respond and the gang arrange for a runner to deliver the Class A substances, before their illegal operation was disrupted when Derbyshire Police officers, working in conjunction with colleagues from Greater Manchester Police.
Cops raided five homes at the suspects’ addresses in Buxton and Manchester on Friday 29 August last year. The strikes involved more than 50 officers from GMP and the Criminal Exploitation Team, Safer Neighbourhood Team and Task Force at Derbyshire Police.
Drugs, amounts of cash, numerous mobile phones and drug paraphernalia such as weighing scales, were seized, police said. Officers arrested eight members of the gang in total, who were all were charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
They all pleaded guilty to the charges and have now been jailed following sentencing hearings held at Manchester Crown Court in July, September and November.
The gang members jailed are:
Niall Fisher (27) of Green Avenue, Manchester, who was jailed for 10 years and seven months
Dale O’Sullivan (32) of Westbourne Road, Manchester, who was jailed for seven years and one month.
Anthony Fagan (40) of Alma Street, Buxton, who was jailed for three years and seven months.
Damien McCarron (47) of Ashop House, Buxton, who was jailed for two years and three months.
Shakeel Stubley (19) of Chandos Grove, Manchester, who was jailed for one year and 10 months.
Scott Whysall (37) of no fixed address, who was jailed for one year and three months.
Kayleigh Harrison (28) of Welbeck Avenue, Buxton, who was jailed for three years and two months
And Ermond Shala (47) of Winton Road, Salford, who was jailed for three years and nine months.
Detective Inspector Chris Ford, who leads the Criminal Exploitation Team at Derbyshire Constabulary, said: “The length of the sentences handed to these individuals reflects the seriousness of their crimes. They exploited vulnerable members of society by coercing them into their criminal enterprise, which caused misery for the residents of Buxton.
“The punishments handed down to this gang should serve as a warning to others looking to peddle drugs into our county. We work around-the-clock, all-year-round alongside our colleagues in neighbouring forces to target county lines gangs intent on producing, transporting and dealing drugs across our borders.
“If you suspect drug-related crime is happening in your neighbourhood – please report it to us. We will treat every piece of evidence with care and will not hesitate to take appropriate action to get justice for victims.”