Islington woman jailed for drug dealing in notorious west London street

AN Islington woman who helped flood a notorious west London street with cocaine and heroine has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Marcia King, 40, from Stonefield Street, off Richmond Avenue, Barnsbury, was one of seven people arrested by undercover police targeting drug dealing in Church Road, Willesden.

In the last few years, the street and its surrounding area had gained notoriety for being the home of open drug dealing of cocaine and heroin.

Last month, the final members of the 15-strong drug-dealing gang were trialled in Harrow Court and all convicted of a variety of drug offences.

Officers stormed Xawaaladda Amal Express, an internet caf�, Spicey Nicey, a West Indian takeaway and Jet Max, a computer shop, all in Church Road, in addition to scores of homes in Brent and five other boroughs.

Brent Police teamed up with colleagues from Territorial Support Group, Specialist Crime Directorate to form a 430-strong team that carried out the raids.

King was convicted of three counts of supplying and being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

Detective Constable Anthony Stanton, of Brent Police task force, said: “This was an undercover operation that has led to the arrest and conviction of members of a criminal network involved in the supply of Class A drugs.

“Operation Soto was a direct response to information received from our local community about criminality, drug dealing and anti-social behaviour in and around the Church Road area.

“The operation identified individuals involved in the large scale distribution of Class A drugs as well as those involved in street dealing.”