Man who ran 'West Yorkshire Cartel' drugs line jailed for almost seven years
The drugs line supplied cocaine, ketamine, and cannabis.
A drug dealer from Kirklees has been sentenced to six years and ten months in prison for running a drug line dubbed the ‘West Yorkshire Cartel’ that supplied cocaine, ketamine, and cannabis.
On March 2 police stopped the 34 year old in an Audi on the A629 between Silsden and Keighley after suspecting the vehicle was involved in drug dealing.
Shane Vickers of Bradford Road, Cleckheaton, was found with a mobile phone and two lighters.
Further searches at an address in North Yorkshire revealed a box of new lighters and a roll of labels.
Forensic analysis of Vickers' phone uncovered evidence of bulk Snapchat messages marketing various drugs, including cocaine, ketamine, cannabis, and MDMA, under the handle @HOOVERITUP247.
Vickers pleaded guilty and was sentenced earlier this week at Bradford Crown Court.
Detective Inspector Helen Chapman, of West Yorkshire Police, said:
“We welcome this sentence and hope it reflects the severity of the harm this type of offending causes."
“The supply of drugs fuels crime and violence in our communities and we hope this sentence warns others who seek to profit from criminality."
“Operation Phoenix will continue to take a proactive approach to disrupting and dismantling county lines drug dealing.”