Ipswich: Jerome line drug dealers jailed for 12 years

Lloyd Agyekum, Quin Byrne and Jason Mohammed were arrested after police raids at premises in Burrell Road, St George’s Street and Pelican Close in Ipswich in 2021, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Charles Myatt, prosecuting said police officers who raided a flat in Gipping Court, in Burrell Road, Ipswich in April 2021 found 81 wraps of heroin and 142 wraps of crack cocaine with a street value of more than £2,000.

Quin Byrne, 25, was jailed for four and a half years (Image: Suffolk Constabulary)

Byrne was arrested at the premises and following his arrest Agyekum, who was described as “coordinating and controlling” the “Jerome” drug line, had tried to contact Byrne and the Jerome line had then gone quiet.

Mr Myatt said a mobile phone was seized from Byrne and experts estimated that between November 2020 and May 2021 around two kilos of drugs worth £140,000 had been sold to more than 2,000 customers through the “Jerome” line.

A number of knives and a crossbow were found at the flat which Mr Myatt said were consistent with people dealing drugs having a means of protecting themselves. 

Agyekum was arrested in Croydon and had £1,000 in his possession.

Lloyd Agyekum, 28, has been jailed for six years, (Image: Suffolk Constabulary)

Police subsequently raided a property in St George’s Street, Ipswich in September 2021 and found Byrne and Mohammed at the premises along with 81 wraps of heroin and cocaine.

Byrne had tried to throw £1,400 cash out of a window and officers found the “Jerome” drug line phone at the premises.

Police officers also raided premises in Pelican Close in June 2021 and found Mohammed in the premises with another man who was described as the controller of the “Deano” drug line and has since been jailed for six years.

Mr Myatt described Mohammed as a “runner” for the drug line.

Agyekum, 27, of Turpin Way, London, admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine and was jailed for six years.

Byrne, 25, of no fixed address, admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine and was jailed for four and a half years.

Mohammed, 46, of Marine Parade East, Clacton-on-Sea, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin and was jailed for two years.

Jason Mohammed, 46 has been jailed for two years (Image: Suffolk Constabulary)

At an earlier hearing Stephen Mather, for Mohammed, said his client accepted he had been involved in the supply of drugs to get drugs to feed his own addiction and not for profit.

He said Mohammed had ended up coming to Ipswich after losing his accommodation in Essex, and had managed to get off heroin in the past but then had a problem with cocaine.

Jamie Sawyer, for Byrne, said his client had a previous conviction for having a bladed article.

Simon Gladwell for Agyekum said his client had no previous convictions for drug offences and had been involved in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin for six months.