A man from Slough has been sentenced after police uncovered a county‑lines operation supplying Class A drugs between Berkshire and Hampshire.
Sentence handed down at Winchester Crown Court
Rrahim Statovci, aged 23 and from Mill Street, was jailed for six years and four months at Winchester Crown Court on 30 July after admitting offences relating to the supply of crack cocaine and heroin. Court paperwork shows he ran the line under the alias “Rico”.
Investigation and seizures
Officers investigating a Class A drug supply line arrested Statovci in March. Police say the operation was active between July 2025 and January 2026 and moved drugs between Slough and Basingstoke.
- Drugs seized: £15,000 worth of crack cocaine and heroin
- Cash recovered: £3,300
- Role: identified as the line holder for the county lines network
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sentence | 6 years 4 months (Winchester Crown Court) |
| Operation period | July 2025 – January 2026 |
| Seized drugs value | £15,000 |
| Cash seized | £3,300 |
Police response and community impact
The case was handled by the Northern Area Crime Team. Police staff investigator Michael Longmore commented on the wider harms caused by Class A drug supply and stressed the force’s commitment to targeting those involved in drug networks that affect local communities.
“The supply of drugs, particularly Class A drugs, is a significant cause of harm within our communities. As well as the damage it can cause to the person taking them, the production and supply of drugs can lead to serious violence, and the exploitation of vulnerable adults and children. We are determined to keep relentlessly pursuing criminals to reduce the negative impact they have on the local community, making it safe for everyone.”
Local residents may take reassurance from the sentence, which removes a person judged to be central to the line from the streets for several years. However, police and community groups frequently warn that county‑lines activity is often organised by networks and can adapt when individual operators are arrested.
What this means for Slough and neighbouring areas
County‑lines operations typically use a base in one town to supply drugs elsewhere and often exploit vulnerable people. The policing response in this case involved seizure of both drugs and cash and a custodial sentence for the identified line holder. For residents concerned about drug activity, the force advises reporting suspicious behaviour to Thames Valley Police through the usual non‑emergency channels.
Further enquiries into the network that supplied Slough and Basingstoke are likely to continue as investigators look to identify others involved in the supply chain.
Leo Wright, Slough correspondent
