Ten members of a major drug gang have been sentenced to a combined total of more than 63 years in prison following an investigation into illegal sales in Blackpool, Lancashire. On 13 March 2026, Lancashire Constabulary confirmed the group was responsible for running a network that brought heroin and cocaine into the community.
The group operated what is known as a county line- a system where urban gangs move drugs into different towns- under the name of the Pabz line. This specific network was active between 2024 and 2025 and involved individuals from several areas, including Blackpool, Bradford, and Stoke-on-Trent.
All ten defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and were sentenced at Preston Crown Court on 27 February 2026. This case was handled as part of Operation Warrior, which is a police programme dedicated to dismantling serious criminal networks.
Detective Chief Inspector Sean Kelly-Martland stated that the investigation has successfully removed high-level criminal operators from the streets. Clive Grunshaw, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, added that the results show a commitment to tackling organised crime that causes harm to local neighbourhoods.
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