A man from Eye has been jailed after being arrested as part of a national police operation to combat county lines drug dealing.

Cambridgeshire Police said Artur Shabani, 26, was at his home in High Street, Eye, on 2 March when officers conducted a warrant at the property.

“Police had received information that a county lines operation supplying cocaine in South Lincolnshire and Rutland was being run from the village,” a force spokesperson explained.

“Officers found nine mobile phones in Shabani’s bedroom as well as a small amount of cocaine and drug dealing paraphernalia elsewhere in the property.

“Mobile phone analysis revealed bulk messages related to selling cocaine.

“The investigation also uncovered CCTV evidence of Shabani topping up one of the county lines deal phones - an unregistered pay-as-you-go device.”

On Tuesday (21 April) at Cambridge Crown Court he was jailed for 36 months, having admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

County lines is the name given to drug dealing where organised criminal groups (OCGs) use phones to move and supply drugs, usually from cities into smaller towns and rural areas.

From 2 March, police forces across the country conducted a County Lines Intensification Week, led by the National Police Chief’s Council. In Cambridgeshire, police conducted 12 warrants, made 32 arrests and seized large quantities of class A and B drugs.

DC Jenny Hargreaves said: “The evidence against Shabani was damning, giving him little option but to plead guilty.

“I’m pleased he has been brought to justice, and this county lines operation selling cocaine in Rutland and South Lincolnshire disrupted.

“County lines can often be linked to other offences such as criminal exploitation and the substances they deal trap people in addiction. We will continue our efforts to identify those involved in supplying drugs and bring them before the courts.”

For more information on county lines drug dealing, or to make a report, visit Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s website.