“Cocaine fuels a chain of suffering"
A Midlands County Lines drug gang responsible for supplying cocaine across Warwickshire has been dismantled following a detailed police investigation.
The case first came to light in June 2023, when Manjinder Pama, who was living in Nuneaton at the time, was arrested.
Officers found him in possession of £11,000 in cash and almost £13,000 worth of cocaine. He was later found with a further £13,000 of cocaine, reinforcing suspicions of a wider organised operation.
Subsequent enquiries led detectives to uncover a broader network linked to the supply of cocaine across Warwickshire.
Authorities identified several individuals connected to the conspiracy, with the investigation mapping out activity between November 2022 and August 2023.
All those involved were charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and appeared before Warwick Crown Court.
Sentencing took place on April 17.
Manjinder Pama received an additional 33 months added to his existing prison sentence, alongside a Serious Crime Prevention Order.
Dipak Ram was sentenced to 11 years in prison and also handed a Serious Crime Prevention Order.
Rachel Byrne was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison, while Kamlesh Kaur received a four-year custodial sentence.
Lisa Banks was given a two-year suspended sentence, alongside a rehabilitation activity requirement and an electronic curfew.
Shaun Neal received an 18-month suspended sentence and was ordered to undertake unpaid work and rehabilitation activity.
Inside the Operation
The investigation revealed a structured County Lines network supplying cocaine into Warwickshire.
Detectives identified Dipak Ram, of Himley Close in Great Barr, as a key supplier feeding drugs into the county.
Manjinder Pama’s arrest proved pivotal. He was caught with £11,000 in cash and almost £13,000 of cocaine in June 2023. He was later found with a further £13,000 of cocaine, strengthening the case against the wider group.
Police later identified Kamlesh Kaur, of Hargreaves Street, Wolverhampton, as part of the supply chain. She was arrested in October 2023 as officers continued to piece together the network.
Detective Sergeant Daniel Lydster, who led the investigation, said:
“Each one of these individuals was willing to spread misery, poverty and crime across Warwickshire to try to make some cash.”
“This was a long, complex investigation and we couldn’t be more pleased that we have broken up this group and presented them to the courts to be held accountable.
“Cocaine fuels a chain of suffering that starts halfway across the world and ends in damaging our communities here in Warwickshire, and anyone involved in its supply can expect to face justice.”
The case highlights how County Lines operations rely on coordinated roles, from suppliers to distributors, to move drugs across regions.
It also demonstrates how targeted police work can dismantle networks that operate across multiple areas, disrupting supply chains and reducing harm in affected communities.
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