Five people sentenced to a combined total of more than 21 years in prison for their involvement in county lines drug dealing in Portsmouth

Five people have been sentenced to a combined total of more than 21 years in prison for their involvement in county lines drug dealing, following an investigation in which three lines were closed, £24,000 of crack cocaine and other Class A drugs were seized, and £11,000 in cash was recovered.

All five were sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday 8 March 2024 following complex investigations into offences committed between 2020 and early 2023. The investigation was overseen by Hampshire & IOW Constabulary’s Operation Monument team and Portsmouth’s Priority Crime Team, with support from the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Orochi team,

On 24 February 2021 one of the defendants was seen dealing drugs outside the Travelodge on Stanhope Road. Following enquiries two different rooms in the hotel were searched and four of the defendants were arrested. Crack cocaine and heroin was seized.

On 18 March 2021 a known drug user was seen by local officers entering Kingston Cemetery and meeting with one of the defendants. Subsequent enquiries led to a premises search at an address on Byerley Road where cash, sim cards, and wraps of crack cocaine and heroin were seized.

Numerous other lines of enquiry and intelligence led to the case being built against the defendants who were all convicted of offences including being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

They were sentenced as follows:

• Amos Kizito, who is known as ‘Jimie’ and is 21 years-old, of Crasswell Street in Portsmouth was sentenced to five years in prison.
• Lamin Banekou Kurubally, aged 26, of Bonfire Corner in Portsmouth was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison.
• Sheldon Lamb, aged 21, of Cavendish Road in Southsea was sentenced to four years and seven months.
• Ansumana Sanyang, aged 21, of Queens Road in Portsmouth was sentenced to four years and six months in prison.
• Helio Victor Mateus, aged 22, from Portugal was sentenced to 3 years in prison.

‘County lines’ refers to when drug gangs from major cities set up networks in regional areas and use vulnerable people and children to carry, store and sell their drugs for them. The line refers to the phone line being used.

PC Samuel Davy said: “Our work over a long period closed three ‘county lines’ in Portsmouth completely. These sentences send a clear message to people like Kizito, Kurubally, Lamb, Sanyang, and Mateus, that we will not tolerate the supply of drugs in the city. We will relentlessly pursue you until you face a day in court if you take part in similar activities.

“Drug supply causes harm and misery to our communities and we will continue disrupting it and making sure that our city is a hostile environment for drug dealers to operate in.

“We encourage anyone who suspects drug related activity to be taking place in their neighbourhood to report it to us. Every piece of information helps us to build a stronger intelligence picture and allows us to take action.” 

You can make a report by calling 101 or by visiting our website https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

Alternatively, you can report to Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website https://crimestoppers-uk.org/

Spotting the signs

We encourage our communities to spot the signs that someone might be involved in drugs supply, and to report any suspicious activity to us via 101, the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary website or Crimestoppers where reports can be made 100% anonymously.

Some of the things to look out for and consider include:

• Do you know someone who is always going missing from school or their home?
• Are they travelling alone to places far away from home?
• Do they suddenly have lots of money/lots of new clothes/new mobile phones?
• Are they receiving much more calls or texts than usual?
• Are they carrying or selling drugs?
• Are they carrying weapons or know people that have access to weapons?
• Are they in a relationship with or hanging out with someone/people that are older and controlling?
• Do they have unexplained injuries?
• Do they seem very reserved or seem like they have something to hide?
• Do they seem scared?
• Are they self-harming?