Two south London drug dealers have been jailed for a total of nine years for running a county lines drug network supplying crack cocaine and heroin.

From their homes in Croydon and Streatham Hill, the two male musicians prolifically supplied drugs through a county lines network to Basingstoke in Hampshire.

Cassiel Wuta-Ofei, 27, of Priory Crescent, SE19 and Malki Martin, 24, of Fortrose Gardens, SW2 have both been sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment.

The pair were stopped in Basingstoke by police on March 28, 2018 driving a Mercedes A Class, where the officers found a mobile phone later attributed to a prolific county line using the moniker 'Ozzy'.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Jamie Grocott said: “County line operators ruthlessly exploit the most harmful addictions for profit, relying on a network of vulnerable individuals and a culture of violence and intimidation.

“The sentences passed today reflect the enormous harm such offences cause to communities across the UK.

“Both Wuta-Ofei and Martin are young men. I hope they use the time in prison to reflect on the gravity of their crimes and return to society ready to make a positive contribution.”

An investigation was launched by Trident detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime department after the pair had been stopped.

Detailed analysis of communication devices and number plate tracking showed repeated journeys between Basingstoke and Lambeth.

Officers were able to prove that Martin and Wuta-Ofei had acted as principal line-holders for the Ozzy network.

Wuta-Ofei was arrested on March 19, and Martin was arrested on February 28 whilst in possession of two SIM cards found to further county line monikers, ‘Baz’ and ‘Joey’.

Martin pleaded guilty in April at Inner London Crown Court to conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine between February 27 and August 16, 2018.

He also pleaded guilty to being involved in supplying the two class A drugs via two other county lines, one operating between Newbury, Berkshire, between August 14 and October 25, 2018, and the other in Farnborough, Hampshire in February 2019.

Wuta-Ofei was found guilty at the same court on October 21 to conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine between February 27 and May 11, 2018.

The court also heard that both men had previous convictions for possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin in 2013.

Criminal Behaviour orders have also been granted, banning the pair from possessing unregistered SIM cards for eight years.