Crack and heroin dealing duo in Hertfordshire jailed for a combined 21 years after drugs and £180k in cash seized

Noble Welch, aged 37, of Jackman Close, Milton Keynes and Shenice Ribeiro, aged 36, of Helston Place, Milton Keynes, were part of a criminal enterprise operating between January 2024 and March 2025. The judge described the scale of their operation as having a “reach and output significantly larger” than typical drug networks.

Following a detailed investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary’s County Lines Investigation Unit, both individuals were arrested in March 2025 at an address in Milton Keynes.

Officers seized approximately £180,000 worth of Class A drugs, along with cash and multiple mobile phones.

After a three-week trial at Huntingdon Crown Court, Welch and Ribeiro were found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (cocaine and heroin) and possession of criminal property (cash).

Welch was also convicted of possessing a mobile phone while in prison and attempting to pervert the course of justice. He made over 300 calls from prison in an effort to persuade another individual to present himself at a police station and falsely claim responsibility for the drugs seized during the arrest. The judge described this act as a “severe attempt” to interfere with justice.

Both were sentenced at Huntingdon Crown Court on Friday with Welch sentenced to 14 years and Ribeiro sentenced to seven years.

Detective Sergeant Christopher Cowell, from the County Lines Investigation Unit, said Welch was one of the main suppliers of crack in the entire South East region.

He said: “Welch was a major supplier of heroin and crack cocaine across the South East. During this operation, we seized nearly two kilograms of Class A drugs, preventing them from reaching communities across the UK.

“These sentences have dismantled a significant drug network and removed individuals who posed a serious threat to vulnerable people, especially young members of our communities. We continue to rely on the public to be our eyes and ears. If you have any information about drug dealing, please report it — together we can help keep Hertfordshire safe.”

Help and support for those with drug addiction:

If someone you know has a drug problem, they can get help by contacting Frank on 0800 77 66 00 or visiting talktofrank.com.

The County Lines Investigation Unit was launched in 2018 and is made up of officers who specialise in targeting serious and organised crime. Since May 2019 the team has executed hundreds of search warrants, made more than 540 arrests and seized over £680,000 in cash. This has led to numerous county lines gangs being dismantled and offenders sentenced to more than 1000 years in prison in total.

What is county lines?

County lines is the name given to describe drug dealing, which involves criminal networks from urban areas expanding their activities into smaller towns and rural areas.

It often involves the exploitation of children, as gangs use young people and those with mental health or addiction problems to transport drugs and money. These gangs establish a base in the location they are targeting, often taking over the homes of local vulnerable adults by force or coercion in a practice referred to as ‘cuckooing’.

Dealers typically use a single phone line to facilitate the supply of Class A drugs to customers. The phone line is highly valuable and is protected through violence and intimidation.

What is Cuckooing?

Cuckooing is the term used when gangs establish a base in the location they are targeting, often taking over the homes of vulnerable adults by force or coercion.

How to spot the signs that cuckooing might be happening in your neighbourhood:

Lots of different people coming and going from an address during the day and at night.

Suspicious smells coming from the property.

Windows covered or curtains closed all of the time.

Cars pulling up to or near to the house for a short period of time.

An increase in anti-social behaviour around the property.