Simple mistake that lead to downfall of 'Cleo' hotline offering daily drug deals

05 October 2023 , 18:25

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Simple mistake that lead to downfall of 'Cleo' hotline offering daily drug deals

A woman who took around 6,500 calls on her dedicated drugs hotline that she named "Cleo" has been jailed.

Sophia McAllister, from Timperley, Greater Manchester, ran the class A hotline for at least four months. Police found that from April 2023 to August 2023, 3,500 text messages were sent and 2,300 were received. Almost 2,500 calls were made from the hotline, while 6,500 were incoming. Messages on the "busy" line included ones that read "CLEO! FIRE! ON! DEALS! ABOUT ALL DAY!!!!!!"

They were sent as bulk messages during a small-time window to advertise the drugs line was active, Greater Manchester Police said. Follow-up messages saying 'yh' and 'u about' were then sent from the phone. After a covert investigation, detectives linked the line back to McAllister. She was caught out after deciding to pay for the line with an account in her own name.

Sophia McAllister has been jailed (Men Media)

McAllister, 25, was arrested at an apartment in, August, 2023 and during a search, police found the phone as well as some crack cocaine and heroin in the kitchen, reported the Manchester Evening News.

McAllister was jailed for 30 months at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday for her part in the county lines drugs operation. She was previously charged with being concerned in the making of an offer to supply quantities of Class A drugs.

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Some of the drugs found in the apartment (Men Media)

McAllister was tracked down through her phone line which was in her name (Men Media)

PC Andy Shaw, of Greater Manchester Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Group County Lines team, said: "County lines drugs operations can have severe consequences to the community and we will continue to monitor and track using our cover techniques to uncover individuals and groups who are involved in serious and organised crime. Our joint approach to tackle this type of criminality continues at pace as we assess the threat, risk and harm drugs have on individuals and our communities.

"We will continue to act on all intelligence received and rest assured we are determined to make sure those who disregard the law will face justice." A statement from the police also read: "Please continue to report any concerns to Greater Manchester Police by calling 101 or anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Ashlie Blakey