Drug dealer jailed after plain clothes officers pounce at station – Northamptonshire

A drug dealer who was caught with thousands of pounds worth of crack cocaine has been jailed following a British Transport police (BTP) investigation.

Latrell Lawrence, 36, of Thames Rise, Kettering, was jailed for three years last month after he pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Supply Class A drugs.

Daryl Bright, aged 35, of Windmill Avenue, Kettering, who was travelling with Lawrence, appeared at Northampton Crown Court on Wednesday 26 August.

He was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months, after pleading guilty to Possession of a Knife and Possession of Counterfeit Currency.

The court heard how, on 3 February this year, the pair were stopped by plain clothes officers from BTP’s County Lines Taskforce at Kettering station due to their suspicious behaviour.

Both were detained for a search with officers discovering a lock knife on Bright who claimed it was harmless and used to clean his nails, as well as £100 of counterfeit bank notes.

Meanwhile, Lawrence resisted being searched and was adamant he was only carrying cannabis for personal use.

His protests prompted officers to suspect he could be in possession of further illegal items, and a search produced a large bag of crack cocaine estimated to have a street value of around £7k, along with two mobile phones. 

Both were subsequently arrested with Lawrence denying he had any knowledge of the crack cocaine found on him.

BTP Sergeant Julian Mason said: “Our County Lines Taskforce is made up of seasoned officers who have seen every trick in the book and are wise to the tactics and behaviour of those involved in criminality.

“Their instincts were once again proved right when they encountered Lawrence and Bright, who despite their protestations were both found to be carrying illicit goods.

“Taking £7k of crack cocaine off the streets will make a significant dent in the criminal enterprise and a huge difference to the communities and vulnerable people they target.

“We’re calling time on anyone using the railway to peddle drugs. Passengers who spot drug dealing on the railway are urged to report it to us using our 61016 text-to-report service.”