Man sentenced for role in Bedfordshire drug network
Marques Howlett stepped into a leading role within a county drugs network following the conviction of its previous ringleader in 2024.
A man has been jailed for more than five years after taking over the running of a Bedfordshire drugs network when its previous ringleader was convicted.
26-year-old Marques Howlett was sentenced to five years and two months at Luton Crown Court on Tuesday (7 October) for a series of drug offences. These included being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine, heroin, and cannabis, as well as possession of cannabis and acquiring criminal property.
The conviction comes after a major police operation targeting the Trey Line – a so-called county drugs line responsible for the daily street-level supply of Class A drugs across Bedfordshire and nearby areas.
Howlett stepped into a senior role within the network after another leading figure was jailed for his involvement in the operation in July 2024.
During the court case, evidence showed that Howlett quickly established himself as a key decision-maker, directing others to distribute drugs on his behalf and maintaining the line's illegal operations.
Along with his jail sentence, Howlett was also made subject of a deprivation order for cash, phones, and drugs seized at the time of his arrest.