More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A rapper turned county lines kingpin is facing a lengthy prison term following an eight-week trial.
Asfa Allen ran at least four lucrative drugs lines linked to the supply of class As between the capital and the Home Counties while performing under the stage name ASCO.
The 32-year-old, of Pegasus Way, Gillingham, and accomplice Akwasi Kwateng, 24, of Hackney, were convicted of conspiracy to supply on Tuesday at Blackfriars Crown Court.
They will be sentenced during the week commencing Monday, September 9 along with four gang members from east London and Coventry.
All six were convicted under Operation Halmist – a proactive operation established by the Met’s Specialist Crime North, formerly known as Trident.
As part of the intelligence collated during the operation, it was established that Allen had been the organiser for at least four routes using lower-level members to run drugs out of Hackney.
During the trial the jury heard that in the early hours of December 12, 2017, following months of investigations, officers executed 15 warrants across London and the Home Counties, which resulted in £25,000 in cash and approximately half a kilogram of heroin being seized.
Fifiteen people were arrested as part of these raids.
Communication devices including phones and laptops linked to active lines, expensive designer footwear and vehicles were also seized.
Detective Inspector Dave Williams said: “Drug dealing is inextricably linked to the violence we have seen across the Capital.
“This result is a culmination of months of hard work and dedication focussed on tackling these prolific drug dealers who would targeted vulnerable people and managed multiple drug lines for the sole purpose of financial gain.
“Allen had landed a successful and lucrative recording contract with a major label where he could have left his life of crime and violence behind, however he could not release his grip on running a county lines route and will now be spending time behind bars instead of working on his music.
“I hope today’s conviction reassures communities that we do take action and highlights our ongoing commitment to bearing down on county lines criminality.”
Allen’s Straight Drop x3 video has racked 7.2 million views on YouTube with lyrics which chart his rise through the ranks of his industry.
