Members of a North Manchester drugs ring inherited by the brother of Thomas Campbell, who was found murdered in July 2022 have been jailed after a covert investigation by police
After he was killed, Campbell’s brother, Lee Campbell, took over the line to become the principal member and ran it as head of a highly organised and fully operational drugs line.
Police identified a mobile as being the drugs line for the Campbell family OCG, and the rest unravelled from there. drugs line for the Campbell family OCG, and the rest unravelled from there.
As the investigation commenced, it became apparent that Steven Quinn featured heavily in the day-to-day dealing and was identified as being a drugs runner.
The investigating team also found that Carlo Tommasello and Kelly Blundell were identified as working closely with Campbell in running the line, while Blundell was also involved in the preparation of the cocaine for supply from her home.
A further three individuals were identified as being involved in the delivering of drugs, these being Stephen Mark Salinger, Mark McGrath and Paul Taylor.
During the investigation, several purpose-made hides were discovered in woodland areas including Clayton Vale and Phillip’s Park. Hides are what criminals sometimes use to conceal their illegal commodities, such as drugs and guns, so that they can evade police if they are raided unexpectedly.
Police observed Campbell on several occasions as he buried a large quantity of cocaine, which was later recovered by the investigation team.
In December 2024, detectives found 16 packages buried in a hide, as well as two kilos of cocaine, which estimated to the street value of £95,600.00.
Officers arrested Lee Campbell as he tucked into a mince pie and a brew at his home in north Manchester. The drugs that the OCG were distributing were buried in smell-proof pots with plastic snap bags, some with a red star symbol printed on them.
During a search of Taylor’s home, detectives found a debtor’s list which amounted to around £40,000, and that he had been communicating internationally, which demonstrates the scale of this organised drugs supply operation. Cocaine, a large quantity of cash, and a mobile phone were also seized.
Drugs seized from another man’s address were estimated to the street value of £85,680.
The valuation of the overall drugs supply conspiracy suggests at least 16kg of cocaine has been supplied, valued up to £1.6million.
On 10 June 2025, at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square, Campbell along with six others have been sentenced for the supply and distribution of class A drugs in the north Manchester and Tameside areas.
They have been handed the following sentences:
Lee Campbell of Lightfoot Walk, Beswick, Manchester, has been sentenced to nine years and four months in prison.
Carlo Tommasello of Dwarf Road, Droylsden, Tameside, has been sentenced to three years and eight months.
Kelly Blundell of North Road, Clayton, Manchester, has been sentenced to two years and eight months.
Stephen Quinn of Edge Lane, Droylsden, Tameside, has been sentenced to three years and four months.
Mark McGrath of Heather Street, Clayton, Manchester, has been sentenced to two years and eight months.
Paul Taylor of Lingfield Road, has been sentenced to two years and eight months.
Another man was handed two years’ suspended sentence, with 150 hours unpaid work to be completed within 12 months.
