Heroin sachets sold by drug dealers in Chester city centre in broad daylight wrapped in Kinder eggs

Dec 24 2009 by Mark Dowling, Chester Chronicle

TWO men who filled children’s Kinder eggs with heroin and cocaine sold the drugs in the heart of Chester in broad daylight from the city centre’s medieval Cross.

They were two of 21 drug dealers jailed for a total of 69 years as a result of a massive police operation led by an undercover super-cop.

Christopher Simpson, 38, of Bangor-on-Dee and Gethin Kirwan, 32, of Watergate Street, Chester, used the Kinder eggs to conceal packets of the drug.

Sentencing the dealers at Chester Crown Court on Thursday, Judge David Hale slammed their audacity to be dealing drugs in the city centre.

He said: “You were perfectly prepared to deal class A drugs in full public view during the day.”

Simpson was jailed for 32 months for drug dealing, plus an additional four months for not complying with a community order imposed for producing cannabis. Kirwan was also jailed for three years.

Inspector Mel Williams, of Cheshire Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, said the force’s drug-busting Operation Strikeout team was part of a response to the drug dealers who had moved out of the shadows into the city centre.

He added: “People who choose to supply controlled drugs can anticipate a knock on the door.. Whether by open or covert methods, they will be caught.

“The operation that took place has indicated people had become blasé about dealing anywhere in the city.

“To do so is foolhardy and we will make sure to target them.

“Anyone who sees drug crime or suspicious activity can call community intelligence on 0845 458 6384 or email chester.inner.npt@cheshire.pnn.police.uk”