Three men have been jailed for their role in a drugs operation nicknamed ‘Scouse Mick’.
The gang flooded parts of North Wales with heroin and cocaine that was delivered directly to the homes of their customers.
A judge today declared their exploits would have had “a devastating effect on local communities”.
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Ian Heyes, Connor Higgins and James Douglas targeted addicts in Flintshire with their Class A drugs business.
Their operation was conducted using the County Lines dealing model - where criminals from cities take over smaller markets and control them from afar through a network of couriers and street runners.
The phone number at the centre of their business was codenamed 'Scouse Mick' and allowed customers to order drugs to their homes.
It is believed they dealt heroin and cocaine with a value of around £90,000 before North Wales Police brought them down through Operation Blue Annex.
Heyes, 32 and from Tuebrook, Higgins, 30 and from Litherland and Douglas, 28 and from Woolton, each admitted conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin and were sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday.
Heyes was sentenced to two years, which will be added to an unrelated sentence he is already serving, whilst Higgins and Douglas were each sentenced to three years and four months.
Investigating Officer PC Chris Wynne, of North Wales Police, said: “I welcome the sentences imposed by Judge Timothy Petts today taking into account the early guilty pleas made by the defendants to prevent trial.
“The ‘Scouse Mick’ County Line blighted communities across Flintshire over the course of several months and this operation highlighted great collaborative work with neighbouring forces such as the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) and Merseyside Police in bringing Heyes, Higgins and Douglas to justice.
“North Wales Police relentlessly pursues those who cause harm to our communities on a daily basis and we will continue to make North Wales a hostile environment for those who seek to engage in criminal activity.
“Our commitment to work with neighbouring forces highlights our pursuit of those who distribute drugs as part of organised crime groups and we will continue to safeguard individuals who may be at risk.”
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