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I wanted to provide you with an update regarding Drugs and related issues, which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey. Stevenage county lines drug dealer jailed
A drug dealer who was heavily involved in supplying drugs in the Stevenage area has been jailed for more than five years in total.
Ryan Lee, aged 24, of Wildwood Lane, Stevenage, was arrested in May 2025, following an investigation by the County Lines Investigation Unit. During the operation Class A and Class B drugs were seized with a street value of more than £5,000, along with a large amount of cash.
Lee appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Saturday 2 July, pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A (cocaine) and Class B (cannabis) drugs and possession of criminal property (cash). Lee, who was also on bail for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and possession of an offensive weapons, was sentenced to five years and four months in prison.
Detective Sergeant Chris Cowell, from the Constabulary’s County Lines Investigation Unit, said: “Lee was well known in the area for supplying Class A drugs, running the ‘Sav’ county line. The disruption of this drug line will make a considerable impact on the amount of drugs and associated crime in Stevenage.
“County lines drug gangs pose a significant threat to communities through drugs and associated violent crime, but especially to young people and those who are vulnerable. We rely on the public to be our eyes and ears on the street, and you can report any information directly to us. Help us to rid your community of drugs and related crime by reporting information about drug dealing.”
Report drug crime by:
• Filling out our online reporting form at https://orlo.uk/S2r61
• Speaking to an operator in our Force Communications Room via online webchat at https://orlo.uk/V6AG2
• Calling our non-emergency telephone number 101 (in an emergency, always dial 999).
• Contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.
Help and support for those with drug addiction:
If someone you know has a drug problem, they can get help by contacting Frank on 0800 77 66 00 or visiting www.talktofrank.com.
What is county lines?
County lines is the name given to describe drug dealing, which involves criminal networks from urban areas expanding their activities into smaller towns and rural areas.
It often involves the exploitation of children, as gangs use young people and those with mental health or addiction problems to transport drugs and money. These gangs establish a base in the location they are targeting, often taking over the homes of local vulnerable adults by force or coercion in a practice referred to as ‘cuckooing’.
Dealers typically use a single phone line to facilitate the supply of Class A drugs to customers. The phone line is highly valuable and is protected through violence and intimidation.
What is Cuckooing?
Cuckooing is the term used when gangs establish a base in the location they are targeting, often taking over the homes of vulnerable adults by force or coercion.
How to spot the signs that cuckooing might be happening in your neighbourhood:
• Lots of different people coming and going from an address during the day and at night.
• Suspicious smells coming from the property.
• Windows covered or curtains closed all of the time.
• Cars pulling up to or near to the house for a short period of time.
• An increase in anti-social behaviour around the property.
 The illicit drugs market is big business, worth an estimated £9.4 billion a year and drug deaths have reached an all-time. Taking the health harms, costs of crime and wider impacts on society together, it is estimated the total costs of drugs to society are over £19 billion, which is more than twice the value of the market itself. If you are adversely affected by antisocial behaviour in your community associated with drug use, The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 outlines the flexible tools and powers that the police, local authorities and other local agencies can use to respond quickly and effectively to antisocial behaviour. If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.herts.police.uk, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org. Get Involved Please consider getting involved by registering for these messages, this will enable you to contribute to the local priority survey. We may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on. Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you. 
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