Group who supplied cocaine across Warwickshire jailed
Officers uncovered a network moving tens of thousands of pounds worth of drugs
Members of a criminal group who supplied cocaine throughout Warwickshire have been jailed and assets worth tens of thousands of pounds seized.
Warwickshire Police said their multi-year investigation began in June 2023 when 45-year-old Manjinder Pama, who was living in Nuneaton at the time, was caught with £11,000 in cash and nearly £13,000 worth of cocaine.
Pama was convicted and received a six-year prison sentence.
Further enquiries by detectives revealed a larger supply network, including individuals working under Pama and his upstream supplier.
It was also discovered that Pama had continued managing the supply line from prison, using coded language like ‘building materials’ to communicate with his co-conspirators.
Investigators identified 34-year-old Rachel Byrne from Worcestershire, and 39-year-old Shaun Neal from Nuneaton as associates who, when Neal's car was stopped in 2023, were found with an additional £13,000 worth of cocaine.
Further investigations led officers to identify and arrest Kamlesh Kaur, 40, from Wolverhampton, and 39-year-old Lisa Banks, from Nuneaton.
Police reviewed all the evidence and all the suspects were further arrested in November of 2024.
Dipak Ram, 41 from Birmingham, was also identified as the group's upstream supplier, was arrested with an additional £13,000 worth of cocaine and £10,000 in cash.
On 17th April, they were sentenced at Warwick Crown Court to the following:
- Manjinder Pama: Further 33 months added to his current prison sentence and issued with a Serious Crime Prevention Order.
- Dipak Ram: Sentenced to 11 years in prison and given a Serious Crime Prevention Order.
- Rachel Byrne: Sentenced to four years and nine months in prison.
- Kamlesh Kaur: Sentenced to four years in prison.
- Lisa Banks: Two-year suspended sentence, including rehabilitation activity and electronic curfew.
- Shaun Neal: 18-month suspended sentence with orders for unpaid work and rehabilitation activity
Detective Sergeant Daniel Lydster, who led the investigation, said: “Each one of these individuals was willing to spread misery, poverty and crime across Warwickshire to try to make some cash.
“This was a long, complex investigation and we couldn’t be more pleased that we have broken up this group and presented them to the courts to be held accountable.
“Cocaine fuels a chain of suffering that starts half way across the world and ends in damaging our communities here in Warwickshire – and anyone involved in its supply can expect to face justice.”