Three prolific dealers who distributed huge quantities of drugs across Scunthorpe and targeted some of the area’s most vulnerable people have been sentenced to a total of more than 25 years in prison.
A long-term investigation, which began in August 2022, discovered that a number of criminals had been exploiting vulnerable people around the town by supplying them with Class A and Class B drugs.
It came after Krysztof Bom, 38, of Grosvenor Street, Scunthorpe, was seen cycling along Buckingham Street on August 11 that year, and failed to stop for officers. Following a foot pursuit, he was searched, and officers seized a quantity of cocaine, heroin and cash. He was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
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That day, officers executed multiple searches at addresses on Spencer Avenue, Grosvenor Street and Berkeley Street in Scunthorpe after Bom was identified as the registered tenant at two of the addresses.
Police discovered Class A, B, and C drugs worth a total street value of £2,001,140, £187,108 in cash and a number of weapons including various knives, machetes and guns.
Alvis Obuhovics, 24, of Berkeley Street, and Liene Obuhovica, 19, of May Street, were subsequently arrested following the discovery, and police began to uncover the structure of the organised crime group. Extensive mobile phone data analysis identified Bom, Obuhovica, and Obuhovics operating a drug line.
The mobile phone seized from Obuhovics contained text messages in relation to the street supply of heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis and various messages from Obuhovica, instructing Obuhovics in the supply of those drugs. This led to them both being charged and remanded into custody.
Another mobile phone was also seized from the property on Grosvenor Street, from which marketing messages advertising the business and the supply drugs were sent, revealing the drugs line had a large and established customer base.
During the search of Spencer Avenue, a mobile phone was also seized and text messages relating to street dealing were discovered, which led to a man being arrested and charged with conspiracy to supply Class B drugs. He appeared at Hull Crown Court at an earlier hearing last year and was sentenced to four months in prison.
Following further lines of enquiries, on Wednesday, February 8 last year, the investigation team led armed officers to Obuhovica’s address on Mary Street where a further seizure of Class A and B drugs were recovered with a street value of £376,480, along with £64,540 in cash and weapons.
Appearing separately at Leeds Crown Court in recent days, Kryzstof Bom was charged with two counts conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, conspiracy to supply cannabis, two counts of conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon, conspiracy to supply a prohibited weapon, two counts of conspiracy to possess a firearm without certificate and conspiracy to possess criminal property and was sentenced to 12-years-and-eight-months in prison.
Alvis Obuhovics was charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and was sentenced to two-years-and-eight-months in prison.
Liene Obuhovica was charged with conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs, four counts of conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon, two counts of conspiracy to possess a firearm without a certificate, conspiracy to possess criminal property and was sentenced to ten years in prison.
Detective Constable Paul Nicholson, who led the investigation, said: “This was a highly complex and co-ordinated investigation led by Scunthorpe CID, and I am pleased we have been able to take these criminals off our streets. I hope this serves as a stark warning to others looking to come to our communities to deal and distribute drugs. You’re not welcome here, and we will not tolerate it.
“Bom, Obuhovica and Obuhovics have no regard for the lives of those purchasing the substances they supplied within the community. This is a business for them, with making money being the only objective no matter the expense or misery of others.
“The drugs and cash recovered show how lucrative this operation was and would have continued to be, had all four arrests and the recovery of the substances not taken place.
“By stopping this gang’s activities, we have prevented significant amounts of drugs from being sold on the streets of Scunthorpe and the associated crime and anti-social behaviour that goes with this kind of offending.
“I would like to thank our colleagues from partnering agencies for their support throughout the entirety of this investigation. The work they do within the communities to assist those battling addiction contributes to making a real difference.
“Work has been continuing with our partners to support the vulnerable people using drugs, as well as providing reassurance and wrap around care to our communities affected.
“I would also like to thank all the people who contact us with information about drug dealing and drug-related crime in their areas.
“We investigate all information that we receive, so please don’t worry if you don’t see immediate action. Sometimes we use what you tell us to build the bigger picture of evidence ensuring we have the best possible chance of a positive court outcome, as in this case. Please keep talking to us if you have any information about crime in your area.”
Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe