Drug dealer faces over seven years in prison

 A man has been jailed in connection with drug offences in Bury St Edmunds.

Zac Patterson, (pictured above) of Iverson Road, in London, appeared before St Albans Crown Court on Tuesday, February 22, where he was sentenced to seven years and 10 months in prison.

He was initially arrested by officers in Hertfordshire on January 13, last year, for being concerned in supplying controlled drugs. 

The arrest was made as part on an on-going operation set up by Suffolk Constabulary with the Met Police to tackle County Lines drug dealing that operate between London and Suffolk.

The 28-year-old was subsequently charged with being concerned in the supplying cocaine and heroin from December 1, 2019, to March 30, 2020, and at a hearing on June 16 he pleaded guilty to both counts of being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine.

This case concerned the investigation into the supply of crack cocaine and heroin by a drug dealer network operating in Bury St Edmunds, under the pseudonym “Frankie”.

Two mobile phone numbers were being used as the lines to sell drugs via bulk text messages and following investigations it was established both phone lines were linked to Patterson.

Investigating officer DC Rob Learney of the Serious Crime Disruption Team (SCDT) said: “Patterson paid no regard to the harm and impact he was causing in our communities and his sole motivation was to profit from his illegal activities. We hope this sends out a strong message out to people that county line drug-dealing will not be tolerated.”

The SCDT core aim is to disrupt serious and organised gangs whose criminal activity focuses on issues such as drug supply and harmful personal acquisitive crime such as robbery/burglary.

The team develop the relevant information and intelligence, conduct enforcement activity and then provide an officer who will build the case and see the investigation through to trial.

The activity to arrest Patterson formed part of Operation Orochi, led by the Metropolitan Police. This has been in place in Suffolk since February 2020.