Members of a drug dealing ring worth £100million have been jailed following a large investigation by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NW ROCU).

Yesterday,drug dealing king pin Marcus Callaghan aged 34 of Newcastle street, Hulme was jailed for 24-years at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, amphetamine and cannabis and conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime.

Jailed alongside him were Theodore Henry aged 30 of Benville Walk, Manchester was jailed for 21 years after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, amphetamine and cannabis, possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime.

Kanell  Henry aged 25  of Chichester Road, Manchester was jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, amphetamine and cannabis and conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime.

Jerome Hamilton aged 32 of Northdown Avenue, Manchester was jailed for 4 years after being found guilty of conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime.

Today,  Thomas Jaffrey aged of The Greenway, Middlesbrough was jailed for 13 years and 4 months after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis and conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime.

Rui Zhu aged 39 of Flat 32, Graham Street, Farthing Court, Ladywood, Birmingham was jailed for 6 years after being found guilty of conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime.

Stephen Sewell aged 38 of Campion Grove, Middlesbrough was jailed for 10 years and eight after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, amphetamine and cannabis and conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime.

Kristian Moloney aged 33 of Kenmore Road, Middlesbrough was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, amphetamine and cannabis and conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime. He is due to be sentenced tomorrow .

Richard Llewellyn aged 34 of Rowarth Road, Middlesbrough was jailed for 7 years after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and amphetamine.

Following a long-running and complex investigation into large scale drugs supply, officers from NWROCU, assisted by Cleveland Organised Crime Unit and Greater Manchester Police, caught Callaghan and his associates supplying millions of pounds worth of drugs to contacts in the North East of England.

Evidence showed that the drugs operation was run from a flat on Knowl Street in Stalybridge where drugs would be stored, and distributed. Those involved in the operation were seen coming and going from the flat, very often with large bags containing large quantities of drugs that would then be driven up to the North East in hire cars, before being handed over to buyers for further distribution.

Detectives followed the group and gathered evidence establishing the scale of the drugs operation.

The court heard how Callaghan ran his drugs ring like a business, wooing clients with expensive trips where he touted for their business.

CCTV of Marcus Callaghan, Theodore Henry and Thomas Jaffray was shown to the court, the trio were seen celebrating New Year’s Eve with table service at an exclusive Edinburgh hotel and bar, spending thousands of pound on drinks and rooms whilst meeting with clients who they hoped to do business with.

Over the following weeks Titan officers built up a wealth of evidence before finally being in a position to take action at the beginning of February 2018.

The total value of the drugs and cash seized was in the region of £31million. Evidence from books kept suggested the whole operation was worth over £100 million.

Detective Inspector Jason Pye from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit said: “Today marks the end of a very long but successful investigation into one of the biggest drugs operations in the North.

“Officers spent hours poring over footage of this group and watched as Marcus Callaghan strictly ran his business mirroring more legitimate enterprises.

“This was a sophisticated and very well organised crime group that flooded Middlesbrough and the North East with heroin and cocaine, blighting the lives of some of the most vulnerable

“Today, Callaghan and his criminal associates are beginning incredibly long sentences. Whilst lining their own pockets, the members of this crime group never gave a second thought to the harm and misery class A drugs cause within our communities.

“Members of this drugs ring made a considerable amount of money from their enterprise and while they may have spent the past few years spending their ill-gotten gains, the only thing they will be spending now is a significant amount of time behind bars.”

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here