“BARROW has a major problem with drugs, especially in county lines cases.”

That’s the view of Detective Constable Graham Benson, of Cumbria Police’s Community Serious Organised Crime Unit.

He was giving evidence in the trial of three men accused of being involved in an operation to supply Class A drugs between Manchester and Barrow.

Latham Burke, 49, Sheldon McDuffus, 26 and Stephen Payne, 54, are all on trial at Preston Crown Court charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin between September 1 2022 – January 5 2023 by using a phone labelled the ‘MK line’.

It is alleged by the prosecution that McDuffus, of Stelfox Street, Eccles, helped to facilitate the supply of drugs from Manchester, that Burke, of Raglan Court in Barrow,  worked as a dealer in Barrow, and that Payne, of Broad Close in Barrow, made three trips to and from Barrow to Manchester to pick up drugs and a youth being used to deal drugs.   

READ MORE HERE: Three men go on trial accused of supplying Class A drugs from Manchester to Barrow

They are on trial as part of a wider operation of other members involved in the conspiracy – some of whom have already pleaded guilty.  

Prosecutor Paul Brookwell said Jordan Baker, of Hulme Street in Salford, was at the head of the conspiracy.

He said Baker operated the MK Line alongside Hannah Feeley, of Stelfox Street in Eccles.

Baker has since pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin between the indictment date of the defendants, and possession with intent to supply cocaine on January 5 2023.

Feeley has admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

DC Benson, the officer in charge of the case, explained the role of Baker.

He said: “Jordan Baker would stay at his home address in Manchester sending bulk messages from the MK line to customers in Barrow.

“He would then send a courier to Barrow to transport and sell the drugs with the help of local drug users to do the hand-to-hand deals. Couriers would then transfer the cash back from Barrow to Manchester.

“Several phone numbers were used to try and evade law enforcement.

“A combination of youths and adults in Barrow were involved who were further down the chain.”

DC Benson was then asked to speak about mobile phone cell site data and text messages to the jury which the prosecution says prove the movements of the MK Line being used by the three defendants, as well as other conspirators not involved in these criminal proceedings.

The trial continues.