North London crack and heroin drugs gang members jailed

A police investigation began after officers arrested three people on suspicion of drug-dealing in Islington in 2022.

Louis Lillington, 49, was arrested alongside Jack Ashby, 21, and a 16-year-old boy for dealing crack cocaine and heroin.

The arrests helped unravel a wider drugs line operating in and around Angel and Dalston.

On October 5 that year, police carried out co-ordinated dawn raids at 11 homes across London and the Home Counties.

Seven of these were in Islington, two in Hertfordshire, and one each in Hackney and Haringey.

At the homes in Hertfordshire, Hackney and Haringey, large amounts of crack cocaine, heroin and cocaine were found, alongside other drugs paraphernalia.

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Around 15kg of cannabis was also discovered at one of the Islington homes.

The drugs seized had an estimated value of more than £80,000. Officers also found £23,000 in cash and the drugs line mobile phone in Hackney.

Cash and drugs were seized during the raids (Image: Metropolitan Police)

Police also discovered that Shamant Sheraji, 24, was “renting out” the 16-year-old boy who was found with drugs as a runner.

After a dispute over payment, Sheraji blackmailed the boy. The teenager was not charged, and safeguarding arrangements have been made for him.

Chris Moran, Terell Prescott, Shaquille Allen and Aaron Connor were identified by police as the ringleaders, directing the runners to deal drugs to users.

Seven defendants ultimately pleaded guilty to drugs charges at Snaresbrook Crown Court last year.   

Colin Hylton, 41, of Wandsworth, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin after a week-long trial. He was jailed for seven years on May 3 this year.

The other seven men sentenced were as follows:

• Chris Moran, 25, of London Colney, Herts, was jailed for seven years and six months on May 3 for conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin, possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession of criminal property.
• Terell Prescott, 26, of Haringey, was jailed for five years and three months on April 18 for conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin.
• Shaquille Allen, 26, of Hackney, was jailed for seven years and ten months on May 7 for conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin, possession of criminal property.
• Shamant Sheraji, 24, of Islington, was jailed for five years and six months on May 3 for conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin, blackmail.
• Aaron Connor, 21, of Islington, was jailed for two years and seven months on April 18 for conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin, possession of cannabis.
• Jack Ashby, 21, of Islington, was sentenced on April 18 to 22 months in jail, suspended for two years, for conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin.
• Louis Lillington, 49, of Islington, sentenced  on April 18 to two years in jail, suspended for two years, for conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

Detective Inspector Zara Baker said: “Anyone who seeks to profit from the misery caused by illegal drugs can expect a rude awakening from my team."

She added: “I have seen how young people are exploited by criminal groups and how their activities fuel violence in our communities.

"Drug dealing is intrinsically linked to serious violence. Nobody using illegal drugs should be fooling themselves that they’re somehow doing no harm; that is simply not the case."