Detectives in Essex bring down drug lines run from prison
A drug dealer, who tried to run a crack cocaine and heroin supply business from prison, faces an additional six years behind bars
A drug dealer, who tried to run a crack cocaine and heroin supply business from prison, faces an additional six years behind bars, after officers traced the evidence back to him.
Police also secured a Serious Crime Prevention Order against him, which will restrict his ability to return to the same criminal activity and ensure he is closely monitored upon his release.
Donrico Rowe, 26, thought he could distance himself from the risky work selling harmful drugs on the streets of Essex.
Operation Raptor teams tracked him down.
Unravelling a drug supply network
Raptor officers work 24/7 on the issue of county lines drug dealing – a priority area for policing in Essex as it continues to tackle associated knife crime, exploitation and anti-social behaviour.
Rowe, now of HMP Highpoint, was identified as the key orchestrator of this operation during a substantial investigation into several linked drug lines selling crack cocaine and heroin in the Chelmsford and Southend areas.
He was using mobile phones from two prisons, where he was held after a previous sentence.
Messages were obtained, which showed he used ‘Donz’, a known nickname, to sign off when instructing and directing those lower down the chain.
The investigation began in earnest in May 2024, when Kyle Lynch, 24, was found to be carrying drug line phones.
Enquiries began to piece together the wider conspiracy.
It was established Lynch was taking orders from Rowe, in the day-to-day running and oversight of the drug lines.
Further investigative work established Max Hyde, 27, having once shared the same wing with Rowe in prison, had also become involved in managing the operation.
Drugs and phone
A burner phone and wraps of Class A drugs seized during the operation
Tiah Greenfield, 20, carried out work as a runner and a line holder, while Amber Hall, 22, allowed drugs to be stored at her address and had involvement in breaking down drugs into individual deal portions.
These co-conspirators each admitted conspiring to supply crack cocaine and heroin and were sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court in June 2025 as follows:
Lynch, of Widford Chase, Chelmsford, was jailed for three years and nine months.
Hyde, of Surbiton Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, was jailed for three years and four months.
Greenfield, of Surbiton Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, received a two-year detention and training order, suspended for two years, with conditions attached including unpaid work, monitoring and rehabilitation activity.
Hall, of Hart Road, Harlow, was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, with unpaid work, monitoring and rehabilitation activity conditions attached.
In a theme commonly seen with county lines drug dealing, a 17-year-old boy was also enlisted to work as a drug runner and phone holder.
Preventative order secured
His associates and workers tracked down and sentenced, we continued to build a case against Rowe.
From prison, he had arranged for others to restock the drugs for the lines, directed his workers and asked to be kept updated around amounts of money made and drugs supplied.
Rowe admitted two counts of conspiring to supply Class A drugs.
At Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday 28 October, he was sentenced to six years and two months’ imprisonment.
When he’s released, he will be the subject of a five-year Serious Crime Prevention Order, limiting and monitoring his use of phones and other devices, alongside his use of money and vehicles.
Breaches will bring him straight back before a court.
Officers in the case DC Louise Townsend said: “The trade in these highly addictive and harmful drugs has a devastating impact across the country. Essex is no different.
“Recognising that fact, we are working relentlessly to tackle those running these lines. It isn’t about just arresting street-level dealers.
“We identify those involved at all levels of the operation and ensure there is nowhere for anyone to hide.
“Those who think they can get away with becoming involved in drug supply, at any level, in Essex are in for a rude awakening.
“The county lines model sees young people, often children, employed to do the dangerous work.
“Exploitation, violence and extortion go hand in hand with those involved in this criminal activity.
“Not only are we securing lengthy prison sentences for those engaged in this activity, we’re also forward thinking in utilising all the tools at our disposal – like Serious Crime Prevention Orders – to prevent and detect future offending.”
Worried about a friend?
Are you worried that a friend or someone you know may be being exploited through County Lines or organised criminal activity?
Maybe they are returning home late, staying out all night or even going missing for days or weeks at a time.
Are they suddenly being secretive about who they are talking to or where they are going?
Or perhaps you’ve noticed they have large amounts of money on them, or new clothing, jewellery or phones they wouldn’t be able to afford.
Through Fearless, young people can pass on information 100% anonymously to get help.
If you need help from police, call 101 or, if it's an emergency, always call 999.
Where can you get help?
Essex Police says keeping people safe is at the heart of what it does.
Drugs are illegal for a very real reason. They are dangerous and cause real harm.
The force urges people not to take any illegal substance. You can never be sure what you are taking.
There is help available from local drug addiction services. Police urge users to reach out to them.
You can find a list of local organisations offering specialist drug recovery support services on thereferral services page.