PRESS RELEASE : Rapper Alieu Koroma to spend longer in prison for drug offences [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 11 October 2022.

A well-known rapper who ran a county drugs line operation has received an increased prison sentence after his case was referred to the Court of Appeal.

Between October 2021 and January 2022, drill artist, Alieu Koroma, 22, was in control of a county drugs line operation. Koroma, whose music has been played on BBC Radio 1, sent bulk marketing messages to drug users and directed a vulnerable 14-year-old to deliver drugs and collect cash. The drug line Koroma was in charge of was used over 7,500 times and had nearly 800 customers.

On 1 July 2022, Koroma was sentenced to 3 years 10 months’ imprisonment for offences including being knowingly concerned in the supply of class A drugs and possession of a bladed article. The sentencing took place at Wood Green Crown Court.

Koroma’s sentence was then referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme for being too low.

On 11 October 2022, the Court found his original sentence to be unduly lenient and imposed a new sentence of five years and three months’ imprisonment.

Speaking after the hearing, HM Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson MP said:

The class A drugs sold by Alieu Koroma are dangerous and ruin lives. Supplying them at this scale is a serious offence, so I am glad that the Court has handed down a longer sentence that is a better reflection of the crimes that have taken place.