Dealer who ran 'Sam N Marco' drugs line slammed by cops over 'unforgivable' part of business

A man who used 'vulnerable' children to help him deal drugs has been jailed. Arron Kenny, 24, used threats of violence to make the youngsters help with the supply of drugs - including holding of substances - the drugs line mobile phone and collecting money.

Minshull Street Crown Court heard a police investigation into the supply of Class A and Class B drugs in Tameside discovered Kenny was running the 'Sam N Marco' – or ‘SNM’ drugs line.

He coordinated the drug supply, cultivation of cannabis and movement of drugs from place to place. Kenny was arrested in 2021 but 'briefly disappeared', according to Greater Manchester Police.

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When cops caught up with him in December the same year, he was living in an apartment in the city centre and was relying on a driver to take him out to deal drugs as he had two broken legs. A raid was carried out and police seized a large amount of Class A drugs and cash.

Kenny, of Ashton Old Road, Manchester, was jailed for 11 years at Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday (November 18).

Sergeant Matthew Elliot of GMP's Child Criminal Exploitation Team in Tameside, said: “Using violence or the fear of violence to get the vulnerable in our communities to do deal their drugs is bad enough, but to use a child is just unforgiveable.

“As a force, we are committed to protecting the children in our town and we are hopeful that this result allows the victims to put the experience behind them and allows them to live as the children they are.

“This was a complex and challenging investigation with a lot of moving parts and I would to thank members of both the Challenger and CCE teams who were committed to achieving justice in this matter.

“We will continue to work to take drugs off our city’s streets and to prevent children from being coerced into doing something they don’t want to do."