Islington drugs gang dismantled by Met officers

As part of an ongoing concerted effort by Met officers to tackle drug dealing and street gangs based in the N1 postcode area, eight people have been sentenced for their part in gang-related drugs supply offences.

Det Insp Zara Baker, one of the Met officers responsible for policing Camden and Islington, said: “Anyone who seeks to profit from the misery caused by illegal drugs can expect a rude awakening from my team. We are deploying numerous tactics to identify and arrest those responsible for supplying drugs in Camden and Islington.

“Our aim is fourfold: to bring to justice anyone committing the criminal offence of drug dealing, to reduce the harm caused to those using illegal drugs, to reduce serious violence and to protect young people at risk of being drawn into organised criminal groups.

“I have seen how young people are exploited by criminal groups and how their activities fuel violence in our communities. Drug dealing is intrinsically linked to serious violence. Nobody using illegal drugs should be fooling themselves that they’re somehow doing no harm; that is simply not the case.

“My message to everyone living in Camden and Islington is that dedicated police officers are here, working hard alongside partners in and with your communities to arrest the people responsible for criminality. A lot of this work is unseen, but please be assured that we are not complacent – our work is ongoing and there is a continual committed effort to making your neighbourhoods safer.”

During the operation Louis Lillington, Jack Ashby and a 16-year-old boy were arrested for dealing crack cocaine and heroin to users. Extensive investigation linked these arrests to a wider drugs line being operated in the N1 postcode area of Islington.

Police officers then carried out co-ordinated dawn raids on 5 October 2022 at 11 addresses, seven of which were in Islington, two in Hertfordshire (London Colney and Welwyn Garden City) and one each in Hackney and Haringey.

Large amounts of Class A drugs - namely crack cocaine, cocaine and heroin - along with cutting agent and a variety of paraphernalia relating to the supply of drugs were found in addresses in Hertfordshire, Haringey and Hackney. Officers also located 15kg of cannabis at an address in Islington.

In total Class A and Class B drugs with an estimated value in excess of £80,000 were seized. Officers found £23,000 in bundled cash and the drugs line mobile phone at an address in Hackney. The cash was seized as part of the investigation.

Due to the compelling evidence against them, seven people entered guilty pleas at Snaresbrook Crown Court on various dates in 2023 with Colin Hylton being found guilty after a week-long trial. They were sentenced to over 35 years’ imprisonment.

Chris Moran, Terell Prescott, Shaquille Allen and Aaron Connor were identified as "Line Holders" who directed the runners to deal Class A drugs to users.

During the investigation officers uncovered evidence that Shamant Sheraji was 'renting out' the 16-year-old boy who was found with drugs as part of the investigation for use by the drugs line as a drugs runner. After a dispute over payment Sheraji then blackmailed the boy.

Safeguarding arrangements have now been made for the 16-year-old boy. He was not charged.

Details of those sentenced:

Chris Moran, 25, of London Colney pleaded guilty to:
Conspiracy to Supply Class A – Crack Cocaine
Conspiracy to Supply Class A – Heroin
Possession with Intent To Supply Class A – Cocaine
Acquire / Use / Possess Criminal Property
He was sentenced to 7 years 6 months’ imprisonment on 3 May 2024.

Terell Prescott, 26, of Haringey pleaded guilty to:
Conspiracy to Supply Class A – Crack Cocaine
Conspiracy to Supply Class A – Heroin
Possession with Intent To Supply Class A – Crack Cocaine
Possession with Intent To Supply Class A – Heroin
He was sentenced to 5 years 3 months’ imprisonment on 18 April 2024.

Shaquille Allen, 26, of Hackney pleaded guilty to:
Conspiracy to Supply Class A – Crack Cocaine
Conspiracy to Supply Class A – Heroin
Acquire / Use / Possess Criminal Property
He was sentenced to 7 years 10 months’ imprisonment on 7 May 2024.

Colin Hylton, 41, of Wandsworth was found guilty of:
Conspiracy to Supply Class A – Crack Cocaine
Conspiracy to Supply Class A – Heroin
He was sentenced to 7 years’ imprisonment on 3 May 2024.

Shermant Sheraji, 24, of Islington pleaded guilty to:
Conspiracy to Supply Class A – Crack Cocaine
Conspiracy to Supply Class A – Heroin
Blackmail
He was sentenced to 5 years 6 months' imprisonment on 3 May 2024.

Aaron Connor, 21, of Islington pleaded guilty to:
Conspiracy to Supply Class A – Crack Cocaine
Conspiracy to Supply Class A – Heroin
Possession of Cannabis
He was sentenced to 2 years 7 months’ imprisonment on 18 April 2024.

Jack Ashby, 21, of Islington pleaded guilty to:
Conspiracy to Supply Class A – Crack Cocaine
Conspiracy to Supply Class A – Heroin
Possession with Intent To Supply Class A – Crack Cocaine
Possession with Intent To Supply Class A – Heroin
He was sentenced on 18 April 2024 to 22 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Louis Lillington, 49, of Islington pleaded guilty to:
Conspiracy to Supply Class A – Crack Cocaine
Conspiracy to Supply Class A – Heroin
Possession with Intent To Supply Class A – Crack Cocaine
Possession with Intent To Supply Class A – Heroin
He was sentenced on 18 April 2024 to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.