Gang responsible for supplying UK with 350kg of cocaine jailed
That's after two of the members were caught with 52 kilogrammes of cocaine in a vehicle
A gang involved in a multi-million-pound UK-wide cocaine conspiracy have been jailed for over 60 years combined.
Seven men have been sentenced after two of them were caught with 52 kilogrammes of cocaine on them in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
James Garlick, 30, and Shane Wintle, 32, were stopped in a vehicle by officers who found the drugs with an estimated street value of between £6,246,240 and £7,807,800.
The duo were responsible for leading a cocaine operation, using couriers to distribute drugs across the UK.
They also used encrypted communication apps on their phones to organise the supply of more than 350 kilogrammes of cocaine between 20th May and 19th June last year.
The sentences
Garlick and Wintle, both of HMP Dovegate, were jailed for nine-years-and-seven-months each after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine.
Their couriers also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, they include:
Julian Buggs, 57, of no fixed address, jailed for nine-years-and-five months.
Harry Upton, 30, of Buxton, Derbyshire, jailed for nine years.
Sam Upton, 28, of Full Sutton, York, jailed for eight-years-and-two months.
David Rowley, 60, of Church Lawton, Cheshire, jailed for eight-years-and-three-months.
Andrew Rushton, 46, of Ashbourne, Derbyshire, jailed for seven-years-and-eight-months.
“Serious and organised crime on this scale often involves the exploitation of vulnerable people"
Superintendent Victoria Downing, of our major and organised crime unit, said: “This group worked together to operate a multi-million-pound crime business across the UK and have been rightfully brought to justice for their actions.
“Serious and organised crime on this scale often involves the exploitation of vulnerable people, where career criminals prey on vulnerability and addiction to line their own pockets.
“I want to assure communities in Staffordshire that specialist officers are working night and day to take robust action against the organised crime groups operating locally.”