A total of 36 people were sentenced to almost 150 years behind bars after police targeted Merseyside-based criminal gangs exporting heroin and cocaine into Cheshire and North Wales.
All were arrested as part of Operation ImpACT – the largest drugs operation Cheshire Police has ever undertaken – and utilising an undercover officer, known in court as ‘PC Gary’, who infiltrated criminal gangs by posing as a drug user. Most pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs with the ring leaders given sentences of up to 10 years.
The strike phase, which took place on Wednesday, July 9, 2014, resulted in a series of dawn raids at addresses across Chester, Merseyside and North Wales.
One of the largest gangs identified was led by Stockport County footballer Russell Benjamin, 23, of Ashbourne Road, Aigburth, who was sentenced to nine years. Also involved was Sean Gerrish , 22, of The Elms, Liverpool, imprisoned for 10 years as well as Louis Jones, 22, of Jermyn Street, Liverpool and Murbarak Damilola Ajagbe, 22, of Mackets Lane, Woolton, who each received eight years in prison.
Assistant chief constable Guy Hindle said: “Operation ImpACT targeted a number of Merseyside-based criminal gangs we believed were importing illegal drugs into the Cheshire area. As part of our investigations we identified a number of criminal gangs who were working independently and transporting heroin and crack cocaine from Liverpool to Chester, Deeside, Wigan and Portsmouth.”
It was estimated that between them the group had exported more than £1.3 million worth of illegal drugs to vulnerable communities across the UK over the 12-month period of the investigation. A second group, led by Raymond Brett, 25, of Burleigh Road North, Liverpool, who was sentenced to eight years, was estimated to have controlled £370,000 worth of heroin and cocaine over a six-month period.
ACC Hindle told The Chronicle anybody wishing to understand the complex interconnections within the drugs world could do no better than watch American TV drama The Wire set in Baltimore, Maryland, but the reality was misery for individuals and communities.
He added: “I am extremely pleased with the sentences that have been handed out, and I hope this sends a clear message to other criminals in our county that drugs related crime will not be tolerated. This operation was the culmination of more than 12 months of hard work by officers from our Covert Policing Unit, and the fact that all of the offenders pleaded guilty shows the strength of the evidence that the team had gathered.
“Operation ImpACT shows the commitment that Cheshire Police and partner agencies have in targeting those people that undermine our communities and bring misery to residents through their involvement in organised crime and illegal drugs.”
He praised undercover officer ‘PC Gary’ saying the evidence gathered was invaluable but it took ‘a certain type of person’ to work in that environment.
ACC Hindle added: “We want to reassure local people that the efforts of neighbourhood officers will continue. Information from members of the public is vital in the fight against drug-related crime and we would urge anyone with any information about suspected drug related activity in their area to get in touch.”
Mairead Neeson, senior Crown prosecutor with Mersey-Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service, said there had been an ‘excellent working relationship’ between police and the CPS.
She added: “The volume of evidence, coupled with the number of defendants, has made this a difficult investigation. But the strength of the cases built by the prosecution team has brought 12 months of hard work to a successful conclusion.”
One of the final defendants to be dealt with was Thomas Fenlon, 30, of Burleigh Road North, Liverpool, who was this week handed a six-year jail term for two offences of conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine when he appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday (March 11).
The court heard Fenlon, who had access to three Jaguars, would drive one of the other defendants, Raymond Brett, known as ‘Mossy’, to supply drugs in Lache and Saltney, then transport him back to Liverpool with the proceeds.
Prosecutor Simon Parry said: “Another occasion, 23rd December, this the Crown says is a typical instance of the restocking that went on. It was at 11.15am, the undercover officer, PC Gary, had been deployed to Saltney. He rang the Mossy phone number that Mr Brett operated, and he was told that in fact in the area they had run out of crack cocaine. He had to wait 45 minutes or so until the stock was replenished. He had also been told that crack cocaine sold out quickly.”
The undercover officer was later told to go to the St David’s Terrace area in Kynaston Drive. Fenlon’s Jaguar was seen driving through the Mersey tunnel about 12.20pm with Brett as the front seat passenger. By lunchtime it was in Kynaston Drive from where street dealer Craig Smith was able supply the undercover officer.
On March 31 there was a problem with the supply in the area because street dealer ‘Mr Nimmo’ had secreted a quantity of drugs in his body but was ‘unable to retrieve the package’. Nimmo sent a text saying he needed some cocaine to ease the passing of the package. So later that day Brett was brought to Chester by Fenlon to try and solve the problem with supply. The vehicle was seen in Glan Aber Park in Lache.
The next day, as a result of an item being thrown from the car with Fenlon at the wheel and Brett as the passenger, uniformed officers carried out a stop check and found cannabis as well as baby oil and sudocrem, the type of lubricants used if somebody is going to secrete drugs, along with two mobile phones.
Maria Masselis, defending, said her client Fenlon had pleaded guilty at the first reasonable opportunity for which she realised he would be given maximum credit. She said there was ‘genuine remorse’ in relation to his involvement.
Among the 36 defendants were five women plus four male juveniles who pleaded to conspiracy to supply class A drugs. A further two defendants received cautions for allowing their bank accounts to be used to move money across the country.
Anthony Nadin, 53, of Brook Street, Chester, has pleaded guilty to three offences of conspiracy to supply cocaine but failed to appear at court on Wednesday, March 11 for sentencing and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Julian Evans, 52, of Donne Place, Blacon, has pleaded guilty to two offences of conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine but is due to be sentenced on June 26, 2015, as he is currently receiving treatment for cancer.
Anyone with any information is urged to call Cheshire Police on 101. Information can also be passed on anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.
