Multi-million pound drug network between Liverpool and Skegness dismantled
Gang responsible for £3 million cocaine operation sentenced after major investigation
A cocaine trafficking ring that moved millions of pounds worth of drugs between Liverpool and the East Coast of Lincolnshire has been brought down, with nine people now sentenced for their roles in the operation.
The final gang member was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on 6th November, following an investigation that uncovered two linked drug networks – one in Skegness and one in Liverpool – working together to traffic and distribute between 24kg and 30kg of cocaine, with a street value of up to £3 million.
How the operation worked
The cocaine supply route involved drugs being transported from the Kirkby area near Liverpool to Skegness, where they were distributed further. Officers say the Skegness network received around 15kg of cocaine from the Liverpool side of the operation.
Lincolnshire Police's Serious and Organised Crime Unit worked closely with Merseyside Police, mapping out those involved, intercepting drug runs, and recovering evidence from phones and vehicles.
Detective Sergeant Adam Petty said: “This was a large-scale investigation, working across borders... We’ve not only prevented further quantities of harmful substances from reaching the streets of Lincolnshire, but we’ve also disrupted criminal networks that fuel violence and exploitation.”
The key players
The Liverpool arm of the operation was led by Peter Humphreys, 43, of Rotherne Crescent, Halton, near Widness. He was sentenced to 12 years and four months in prison.
His associates included:
Cory Bruen, 31, of Cleadon Road, Kirkby – jailed for 12 years and three months
Patrick OLliffe, 41, of Parkview Road, Liverpool – sentenced to five years and two months
Ricky Adams, 41, of Mount Road, Liverpool – sentenced to two years and five months
In Skegness, Zacc Farrell, 32, of Burgh Road, played a pivotal role, directing couriers and receiving regular supplies from Liverpool. He was sentenced to 11 years and three months.
Lucy Moss, 38, of The Causeway, Burgh Le Marsh, was given a two-year suspended sentence. Police described her as a trusted associate, acting as a go-between in the supply chain.
The couriers
Several others were used to transport drugs between the regions:
Connor Fisher, 25, of Main Road, Stickney – jailed for five years and 10 months after being found with 429g of cocaine
Tom Ashwell, 25, of Wood Grove, Leeds – sentenced to six years and three months
Charlie Pamphilon, 26, of Southwark Close, Stevenage – received a two-year suspended sentence
Financial investigations underway
Police believe the Liverpool-based group purchased around £850,000 worth of cocaine between March 2023 and December 2024, selling it on for significant profit.
Separate proceeds of crime investigations are now taking place to trace and recover assets gained through the illegal drug trade.
A wider crackdown on organised crime
This operation is the latest in a series of major investigations by Lincolnshire Police aimed at dismantling organised crime.
It follows Operation Republic in 2022, which saw 70 people arrested and more than 120 years of prison sentences handed out, and Operation Oystercatcher in 2024, which resulted in eight convictions and 47 years in total prison time.
The force says these efforts are part of a long-term strategy to reduce drug trafficking, violence, and exploitation in both coastal and urban communities.