A SWINDON drug dealer will serve more than four years behind bars for being part of a County Lines supply chain of crack cocaine and heroin.

Police arrested Navado Rhoden, of Welcombe Avenue in October during a series of raids which closed 15 County Lines in Wiltshire.

Officers carried out a warrant in Reading as part of an investigation into the Cody drug line.

They arrested the 23-year-old in Swindon on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs after finding a phone linked to the Cody line in the property where he was handcuffed, then took him into custody at Gablecross Police Station.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in supplying Class A drugs in relation to crack cocaine and heroin, then appeared at Swindon Crown Court last Thursday to be sentenced to four years and three months in prison.

Detective Sergeant Joe Shanklin, of Wiltshire Police's Fortitude Team, said: "This investigation was part of Operation Accentor, a large-scale operation we carried out to disrupt and dismantle Class A drug dealing in Swindon.

"Officers from the Fortitude team have worked hard to gather evidence for this case, as well as others linked to the same operation, to ensure we see these offenders face justice.

"We all know the damage that illegal drugs cause to our communities and we will continue to target County Lines dealers to disrupt their activity, seize their drugs and take them to court."

County Lines is the term used to describe a supply network of narcotics which are transported across - as the name suggests - borders of different counties.

A fortnight of targeted police raids shut several lines and and involved the arrests of 21 men and four women, 14 of whom were later charged.

A total £21,770 in cash and several weapons including a machete and a knife were seized, as well as approximately 500 wraps of heroin and cocaine and assets including a Breitling Watch. 

Officers from the Wiltshire Force’s Fortitude Team were supported by officers and staff from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, Wiltshire Police’s Drone Unit, the National Crime Agency and Community Policing Teams based in Swindon.