Three men have been found guilty of supplying cocaine across Lincolnshire following a major operation to crack down on drug dealing in the county.
The jury at Nottingham Crown Court heard how lavish lifestyles by those involved in the drug supply chain were funded through the production and sale of high purity cocaine, and included owning racehorses, designer clothes worth tens of thousands of pounds, Ducati motorcycles and foreign holidays paid for with cash.
The cocaine was trafficked into Lincolnshire from the West Midlands by two organised crime groups. The complex drugs operation involved an organised crime group (OCG) from Lincoln sourcing cocaine from another OCG based in and around Coventry between 1st January 2019 and 27th January 2020.
The court heard that Lincoln-based couriers made frequent trips to the Coventry area for exchanges to take place, and drug buys also took place in a rural area near to Stanton on the Wolds in Nottinghamshire
Yesterday (10th August), Robert Diaz (42) of Maltkiln Lane, Waddington, Lincolnshire, Barry Knight (59) of Nuneaton Road, Bedworth, Warwickshire, and Stephen Oliver (44) of Windsor Street, Rugby, Warwickshire, were found guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Oliver had also previously pleaded guilty to a count of producing cannabis between 1st June 2019 and 16th January 2020.
The operation was uncovered by detectives and investigators from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) and Lincolnshire Police as part of Operation Hammer.
Warrants were executed across Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands in February 2020.
Detective Inspector Kerry Webb from EMSOU was part of the investigative team, which included support from officers from Lincolnshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire, and Nottinghamshire Police. She said: “This was a complex and highly organised group of criminals.
“Our evidence revealed how five conspirators set up drug deals using encrypted mobile phones in an effort to evade law enforcement, and drugs were exchanged in rural car parks, or the car parks of pubs.
“The lavish lifestyles of those involved in organised crime gangs are not passed on to those they exploit to move the drugs, nor the users addicted to the substances.
“A huge amount of work went into it, from working with our partner agencies and local communities, to the specialist teams which execute warrants and seize evidence, forensics, and investigators who act on intelligence we receive. This is about making our communities safer, and protecting those who are most vulnerable from harm. This operation is yet another example of the success we are having throughout Lincolnshire to tackle the supply of drugs and associated criminality. We identified and successfully dismantled a significant organised crime group, and the result today will go a long way in making our streets safer.”
Sentencing will take place week commencing 18th October.
A further seven men had already pleaded guilty to other charges related to their part in the conspiracy, which also included the production of cannabis.
If you have information about a drugs gang, you can report this 100% anonymously through Crimestoppers: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously
The full details of the charges:
Robert Diaz (42) of Maltkiln Lane, Waddington, Lincoln. Guilty of one count of conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely, cocaine.
Barry Knight (59) of Nuneaton Road, Bulkington, Bedworth, Warwickshire. Guilty of one count of conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely, cocaine.
Stephen Oliver (44) of Windsor Street, Rugby, Warwickshire. Guilty of one count of conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely, cocaine. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of producing cannabis between 1st June 2019 and 16th January 2020.
Edward Wivell(41) of North Parade, Lincoln. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs namely, Cocaine.
Andrew Turner (39) of Holmcroft, Coventry, West Mids. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs namely, Cocaine, one count of producing Class B drugs namely cannabis, and one RIPA offence.
Joseph McCluskey (43) of Parkfield Road, Keresley End, Coventry, West Midlands has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely, cocaine.
Jon Moreton (49) of Torbay Road, Coventry, West Mids. He has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely, cocaine.
Stuart Bassett-Hawcock(34) of Oaklands Close, Lincoln. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely, cocaine.
Jack Constable (33) of Foxhall Road, Nottingham. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely, cocaine.
Michael Kershaw (41) of Florian Way, Coventry, West Midlands. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely, cocaine.:
Not guilty verdicts:
Scott Lowman (34) of Churchill Drive, Bracebridge Heath, Lincoln, was found not guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely, cocaine. He previously pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis between 1st May 2017 and 16th January 2020.
Brett Keenan (27) of Fulmar Road, Lincoln. Was found not guilty of one count of conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely, cocaine, and one count of being concerned in supply Class A drugs namely, cocaine. He also previously pleaded guilty to one count of being concerned in the supply of cannabis between 1st June 2018 and 31st December 2019.
Ryan Glass (29) of Dark Lane, Bedworth, Warwickshire was found not guilty of Conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely, cocaine.
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