Two sisters who operated a sophisticated county lines drug network saw their criminal enterprise unravel in the most unexpected way - when their illegal parcels were mistakenly delivered to a neighbour's address.
Chloe and Leah Johnson, described by prosecutors as running a "significant operation" supplying class A drugs across the region, broke down in tears as their sentencing hearing began at Manchester Crown Court.
The Fateful Delivery Mistake
The court heard how the pair's carefully constructed drug distribution system collapsed after a series of parcels containing substantial quantities of cocaine and heroin were accidentally left with a neighbour who was expecting their own legitimate delivery.
"The neighbour became suspicious about the weight and nature of the packages and immediately contacted authorities," prosecutor Sarah Mitchell told the court. "This single mistake by the delivery driver exposed an entire criminal network."
A Sophisticated Operation Uncovered
Further investigation revealed the sisters had been running what police described as a "well-organised county lines operation" spanning multiple cities. Evidence presented to the court showed:
- Regular shipments of class A drugs disguised as legitimate packages
- Multiple "deal lines" operating across different regions
- Significant financial profits from the illegal enterprise
- Exploitation of vulnerable individuals to distribute substances
Detective Inspector Mark Thompson, who led the investigation, stated: "This was not a small-scale operation. The Johnsons had established a sophisticated supply chain that was bringing significant harm to communities across the North West."
Emotional Courtroom Scenes
Both sisters showed visible distress throughout the proceedings, with family members watching from the public gallery. Defence counsel for Chloe Johnson argued that her client had been drawn into the operation through financial desperation.
"She acknowledges the gravity of her actions but asks the court to consider the difficult personal circumstances that led her down this path," her lawyer stated.
The judge has adjourned sentencing for pre-sentence reports, warning both women to expect significant custodial sentences for their roles in the drug distribution network.
