A drug dealer from Welwyn Garden City, who sold cocaine and heroin as part of a county lines operation, has been jailed for more than three years.

Ryan Marshall, of Heronswood Road, was sentenced to three years and four months at St Albans Crown Court on Friday, August 11, for the following offences:

  • Being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine
  • Being concerned in the supply of heroin
  • Possession with intent to supply crack cocaine
  • Offending while under a community order for being in possession of a class B drug

On Tuesday, July 4, officers from the Operation Mantis Team and Welwyn Hatfield and Hertsmere Scorpion Teams carried out a warrant at the 25-year-old's home address, supported by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Dog Unit.

Around 80g of class A drugs were seized, as well as mobile phones and just under £3,000 in cash, while Marshall, who was inside the address at the time, was arrested.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Officers raiding Marshall's home in Heronswood Road.Officers raiding Marshall's home in Heronswood Road. (Image: Herts police)

Further work was carried out by the Digital Forensic Investigation Unit who investigated his phone.

"Marshall was responsible for running a highly active county line, causing huge misery to many," said Detective Inspector Bianca Broadbent. 

"I am pleased that he is now behind bars and I hope that residents feel reassured by this too.

"The investigation was a real team effort and we will continue doing all we can to rid Welwyn Hatfield of drugs.

"If you have information or suspicions about local drug dealing, please don’t hesitate to report it. The more information we have, the more action we can take."

You can report information online at herts.police.uk/report, via online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact, or by calling the non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.