‘County lines’ gang who trafficked children jailed

Three men and a woman have been jailed for running a county lines network which involved the trafficking of two missing children.

Detectives from the Op Orochi began their investigation into the drugs lines which operated from London to Hull and supplied crack cocaine and heroin.

The line, run by Junior Monakana, 23, issued out bulks of messages, multiple times a day up to 175 potential buyers at any one time.

Detectives discovered that Monakana travelled to Hull from London and back on Sunday, October 8, 2022.

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He travelled with Sabriye Remzi, 26, and Enriko Kadima, 20, in Remzi’s vehicle.

Also present was a 16-year-old missing boy from London.

After staying overnight, when Monakana, Kadima and Remzi travelled back to London, the child was left in Hull alone, in squalid conditions.

Again, on October 11, the same adults travelled to Hull also with Michael Dos Santos, 19.

This time, they took a 15-year-old boy who was reported missing from London.

They all stayed overnight before the two children plus Dos Santos and Kadima stayed in Hull as the others returned to London. 

After an alert from South East Basic Command’s Missing Person Unit, officers were deployed to Hull on October 14 and located the children and Kadima in an abandoned derelict building.

Dos Santos was found in a neighbouring garden, having tried to escape.

Police found relevant phone handsets alongside evidence of the address being used for the storage, preparation and supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

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They recovered a small amount of drugs in the property, with a larger amount found on the 15-year-old – approximately £150 worth.

Once the children were safeguarded, police moved in on Monakana who was arrested in London.

On October 25, Remzi was also arrested in her home address.

The four adults pleaded guilty at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday, May 13 and were sentenced at the same court yesterday (Friday, June 2).

Kadima, of no fixed address, was sentenced to six years’ and four months imprisonment for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and arranging or facilitating the travel of another with a view to exploit under Section 2 of the Modern Day Slavery Act 2015 – Human Trafficking.

Dos Santos, of Redwood Way, Barnet, was sentenced to four years’ and six months imprisonment for the same offence.

Monakana, of Roles Grove, Chadwell Heath, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, crack cocaine and heroin.

Remzi, of Addison Road, Enfield, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment (suspended for two years) and 250 hours unpaid work for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

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The children were not prosecuted and were safeguarded and instead, referred to Children’s Services from respective local authorities and the Single Competent Authority/ National Referral Mechanism.

PC Jack Hardwick from Operation Orochi said: “This sentence sends a message that the use of children as drug runners is taken seriously by the Met.

“This was a victimless prosecution, in that neither child supplied a statement to police.

“This confirms that those that seek to exploit children from London will be caught, arrested and face justice even without victim cooperation.”