Staffordshire County Lines Gang Member Jailed 10 Years for Teen Drug Exploitation

Lakan Illsley, a 28-year-old County Lines gang member from Staffordshire, has been sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison for exploiting teenagers to transport drugs via the UK rail network. He pleaded guilty to two counts of modern day slavery and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, receiving seven years and six months, plus an additional two years and six months for conspiracy to supply crack cocaine. The British Transport Police uncovered that Illsley manipulated vulnerable 16-year-old boys, coercing them to travel over 130 miles from home to sell drugs, including cocaine and heroin. Officers found the teenagers at Blackpool station carrying drugs, cash, a burner phone, and a knife, leading to Illsley's arrest through phone message evidence. Authorities emphasized the ruthless nature of Illsley's exploitation and reiterated a zero-tolerance approach to those profiting from child exploitation. Safeguarding measures were implemented to protect the victims, who were returned home safely after the investigation.