Four people involved in a drugs ring operating between London and Bournemouth have gone to jail.

Suleyman Azami, 23, Michael Connors, 34, Zakaria Warsame, 29, and Cheryl Watts, 38, all appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Warsame was sentenced to six years and two months in prison after admitting offences of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and possession of criminal property.

Azami was jailed for five years and six months after pleading guilty to charges of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and possession of criminal property.

Connors and Watts both received prison sentences of three years after admitting being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

The charges resulted out of an investigation into a county line drugs line, dubbed the Rocco line, operating between the capital and Bournemouth between April and July 2022.

With support from specialist officers in the Metropolitan Police, evidence was compiled to demonstrate the defendants’ involvement in the supply of class A drugs to the Bournemouth area, including text messages broadcasting the sale of heroin and crack cocaine.

The investigation culminated in a series of warrants at the defendants’ home addresses in the Harrow area of London on Thursday 28 July 2022.

During the searches officers located cash and also seized mobile phones that provided further evidence of the defendants’ involvement in the supply of drugs.

All four were arrested and subsequently charged.

Police constable Ellie Meteau, of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Neighbourhood Enforcement Team, said: “We continue to relentlessly pursue those involved in the supply of illegal drugs through county lines networks operating in our communities.

“Through this operation we were able to identify individuals involved in the supply chain and take proactive action to arrest them and seize evidence linking them to their criminal activities.

“We will continue to take robust action against those dealing drugs in our communities as we strive to protect vulnerable people and take weapons off our streets.

“We would urge anyone with information regarding drug related activity in their area to report it to Dorset Police via www.dorset.police.uk or by calling 101. If a crime is in progress, always dial 999.”