Gang boasted about wealth in rap videos to lure kids into crime

A drug dealing gang used drill rap videos to boast about their wealth - including spraying pricey Dom Perignon champagne from a Rolls-Royce - to lure children into crime. The 12 crooks

flaunted their luxury lifestyle in music videos which featured them bragging about defending their 'turf' with guns. The group sold millions of pounds' worth of Class A drugs

on an "industrial scale" across Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire, a court heard. A total of 13 drug distribution 'lines' were later found

connected to the gang. The gang flooded towns with heroin and crack cocaine while defending the patches they worked using knives and guns, and even recruited children to move and sell their

drugs. They also used bulk phone messaging and sophisticated marketing techniques to advertise their lucrative county lines network to more than 1,400 customers. READ MORE SECOND ARREST

AFTER WOMAN FOUND CRITICALLY INJURED IN ROAD Balaclava-clad members posed for photographs and professionally choreographed music videos flaunting their profits with expensive cars, watches

and bottles of champagne. Nottinghamshire Police said the lyrics and images were designed to recruit young drug dealers. Detectives found that children as young as 16 had been hired to

transport and deal drugs by the gang, which was headed by Jephte Fikula, 29, and Sipho Ncube, 29. In order to maximise their profits, the group also produced their own crack cocaine and used

bulking agents to increase the weight of the drugs they sold. Some of the group armed themselves with weapons - including blank and live firearms - to safeguard their enterprise from

competitors. Nottinghamshire Police began an investigation after Ncube was caught running away from a car crash in September 2022. A mobile phone linked to one of the gang's drugs line

was uncovered and 11 others were arrested following a series of raids. On Tuesday (June 3), all 12 were sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court by Judge Mark Watson. * Ncube, of Birmingham, who

boasted of earning £20,000 a week from drug dealing and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle of Rolex watches, designer clothes and posing with bundles of cash was jailed for 15 years for conspiracy

to supply class A drugs. * Fikula, who was found with firearms when police raided his home and "revelled in the reputation and lifestyle drug dealing" was jailed for 21 years for

conspiracy to supply class A drugs. He was also convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence

and possession of ammunition without a certificate. * Ramone Campbell, 28, of Nottingham, was jailed for 16 years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs, possession of a prohibited firearm

and ammunition, breach of a restraining order. * Godpraise Bouwen, 22, of Nottingham was sentenced to 15 years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs. * Kamel Mantock, 28, of Nottingham, was

jailed for six years and four months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs. * Jaysaniel Grant, 26, of Nottingham was sentenced to nine years and six months for conspiracy to supply class A

drugs. * Tarrell Comrie-Patterson, 28, of Nottingham, was jailed for nine years and 11 months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs. * Amang Kanyi, 25, of Nottingham was handed seven years

and 9 months sentence for conspiracy to supply class A drugs. * Bayleigh Reid, 25, of Nottingham, was sentenced to six years and nine months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs. * Aiden

Farah, 21, of Nottingham was jailed for six years and 11 months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs. * Laquarne Fogo, 20, of no fixed abode, was jailed for eight years youth detention for

conspiracy to supply class A drugs and possession of a bladed article. * Gaiel Landau, 24, of Northampton, was sentenced to eight years and three months for conspiracy to supply class A

drugs. Detective Inspector Luke Todd, of Nottinghamshire Police, said after the case: "Class A drugs ruin countless lives and the trade in these substances brings misery to our

communities. That is why we devote so many hours of police work and have specialist teams working on cases like this to disrupt and shut down drug lines. "I'd like to thank the

many officers from multiple teams who worked on this case. Investigating one drug line can be a complex process but 13 lines have been linked to this group, which shows the enormous scale of

their operation. "Following today's sentencings, our thoughts are with the gang's many victims, both the vulnerable people they coerced into selling their drugs and the

unfortunate and desperate addicts who became their customers. Ultimately, whole communities, both in Nottinghamshire and elsewhere, will benefit from these drug lines being identified and

shut down. "The public are an extra set of eyes and ears for us in trying to tackle criminal gangs head-on. The information also allows us to engage with the young people, which is

hugely important in our battle against County Lines. "We know young people in the grip of county lines criminals regularly use trains, buses and taxis to travel from Nottingham to other

parts of the country to sell drugs. I would urge people to be vigilant. If you feel like there's something suspicious about another passenger in your carriage, or you're concerned

that a young person is travelling on their own, please contact the police. "Always report anything suspicious and trust your instincts – it is key to getting that message about county

lines out there." We are now bringing you the latest updates on WhatsApp first