Merseyside gang jailed for nearly 70 years over cocaine plot
A group of eight males from Merseyside have been jailed for a total of 67 and a half years
A group of eight males from Merseyside have been jailed for a total of 67 and a half years, over a drugs plot in Wales.
An investigation by Heddlu Dyfed Powys Police dismantled three Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) in Liverpool, Manchester and South Wales, which were producing and supplying high purity cocaine to communities in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, South Wales and as far afield as Aberdeen, Scotland.
Four trials have been held at Swansea Crown Court and this week significant sentences have been given to all those involved.
Detective Chief Inspector Huw Davies, the Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Phobos, said: “Dyfed-Powys Police, with support from other forces and partner agencies, in particular the Crown Prosecution Service, has disrupted a significant criminal network that was operating throughout the UK.
“This is a tremendous result not only for Dyfed-Powys Police, but for the communities we serve. It is testament to the expertise and dedication of the Force’s Serious Organised Crime Team. Any other criminal groups thinking of targeting the Dyfed-Powys area should think again. We may police a largely rural, traditional area, but we have excellent detectives all committed to making sure our communities are not adversely affected by serious criminal groups such as these.
“May I also thank the members of the public who provided vital information during the course of the investigation. The role members of the public play in making their own communities safer and bringing people to justice should not be under-estimated.
“I urge anyone who suspects someone in their community is involved in the supply of controlled drugs or other criminal activity to contact us on 101 or should you wish to remain anonymous please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
The investigation entailed gathering evidence from other parts of the country, and utilising all available overt and covert tactics and pulling together an evidence package containing over 3,000 pieces of evidence to provide a strong case to the courts.
It centred on the illegal drug activities of an Organised Crime Group (OCG) headed by Matthew Roberts, aged 32, of Llanelli, operating in the Carmarthenshire and Swansea Valley area. It was sourcing significant quantities of high purity cocaine from two separate OCGs in Merseyside and Greater Manchester.
The Merseyside syndicate was headed by Ian Michael Edwards. He was sentenced to 14 years at Swansea Crown Court on Monday, September 25, due to his early guilty plea. Edwards coordinated the trafficking of cocaine via regular, consistent and trusted couriers, namely Andrew Curphey, a 17-year-old boy and Allen Heron, into Carmarthenshire and the Swansea Valley. This was facilitated via the head of the South Wales OCG Roberts. This group also developed a production and supply network in Aberdeen. Some 200 police officers were involved in the Merseyside arrests.
Paul Lasley formed part of the Greater Manchester OCG. Lasley coordinated the trafficking of high purity cocaine and large amounts of mixing agents to the Welsh based OCG, headed by Roberts.
Jonathan Bushell, Head of CPS Cymru-Wales Complex Casework Unit, said: “This operation targeted an extensive and highly-organised network of criminals who were involved in the supply of very large quantities of cocaine.
“One arm of the group was based in, and supplied drugs to, communities across South and West Wales. This Wales-based group sourced cocaine from a sophisticated organised crime network based in Liverpool. Members of the Liverpool gang have also been convicted for supplying cocaine into parts of Scotland.
"Each defendant in this case had a distinct role within the group and each therefore bears responsibility for bringing misery to the communities they supplied. Together they preyed on those in the grip of addiction, who often turn to other types of crime to support their habit.
“Over the last few years, police and prosecutors in Wales have had significant success in identifying, investigating and prosecuting large-scale drug suppliers. Our highly-skilled and dedicated teams are completely committed to ensuring that drug dealers are brought to justice. We hope that the scale and success of this operation will help re-enforce that message.”
Defendants and Sentences
Merseyside Organised Crime Group
Ian Michael Edwards, aged 30, Liverpool, sentenced to 14 years (3 conspiracies to supply class A drugs and 1 conspiracy to supply class B drugs in Wales and Scotland)
Andrew Curphey, aged 37, of Cockburn Street, Liverpool, was given a seven year sentence (2 conspiracies to supply Class A drugs and 1 conspiracy to supply Class B drugs in Wales and Scotland).
Stephen Mudd, aged 27, of Dingle Vale, Liverpool, was given an 11 year sentence (2 conspiracies to supply class A drugs and 1 conspiracy to supply class B drugs in Wales and Scotland).
Ian Andrew Stewart, aged 29, of Stonegate Drive, Liverpool was given a 10-year sentence (1 conspiracy to supply class a drugs in Wales)
Bradley Carroll, aged 31, of Montpelier Drive, Liverpool, was given a seven and a half year sentence (1 conspiracy to supply class A drugs in Wales)
Michael Carroll, aged 52, of Prince William Street, Liverpool was given a six and a half year sentence. (1 conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in Wales)
Allen Heron, aged 38, of Roseside Drive, Liverpool, was given a 10 year sentence. (1 conspiracy to supply class A drugs in Wales).
A teenage male from Liverpool was also previously given an 18-month sentence (2 conspiracies to supply class A drugs and 1 conspiracy to supply class B drugs.