Sefton crime group who supplied cocaine and cannabis nationwide jailed
The group of 12 have been sentenced to more than 100 years behind bars
A Sefton-based organised crime group who supplied cocaine and cannabis nationwide have been jailed for a total of over 100 years.
A 15-month investigation led to several search warrants, which uncovered three firearms, ammunition, cash, and £100,000 worth of cocaine found in homes and cars in Litherland.
Detectives found that Joshua Adam Hayes, 34, controlled a lucrative cocaine drug graft based in Sefton and entrusted his 'graft phone' with key associates to make sure it continued serving customers with Class A drugs while he went on holiday to Turkey and Tenerife.
It's estimated that Hayes supplied 9kg of cocaine during those 15 months, with a street value of approximately £900,000.
Officers also found that James Harrison was managing a lucrative cannabis supply business using the pseudonym 'Budfellaz'.
Over a six-month period, officers believe Harrison supplied more than 240kg of cannabis with an estimated street value of £2.4million and £3.7million.
A search warrant was executed on 12 July 2024 at the home of OCG member Matthew Ball on Condron Road North, where nearly £1kg of Class A drugs were recovered.
At a separate address on the same street, officers also found two Skorpion sub-machine guns and a Springfield pistol hidden in a void behind a wall.
Each firearm had ammunition with them and one of the Skorpions was used in a shooting earlier in the year.
Ball was later arrested for drugs offences having fled from a vehicle that officers were trying to stop in October 2024.
Hayes, Harrison, George Medway, and Anthony John Bennett were also stopped in vehicles in the Sefton area.
Those jailed are:
- Joshua Adam Hayes, 34, of Muspratt Road, Seaforth, for 20 years for conspiracy to possess prohibited firearms and ammunition for sale or transfer, two counts of conspiracy to possess ammunition without a certificate, prohibited person possession of a firearm, conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and conspiracy to conceal, disguise, convert or transfer criminal property
- James Harrison, 28, of no fixed address, for 15 and a half years for conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition for sale or transfer, two counts of conspiracy to possess ammunition without a certificate, and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs
- George Medway, 21, of no fixed address, for 12 years for conspiracy to possess prohibited firearms and ammunition for sale or transfer, two counts of conspiracy to possess ammunition without a certificate, conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, and production of crack cocaine
- Anthony John Bennett, 31, of no fixed address, for 17 years for conspiracy to possess prohibited firearms and ammunition for sale or transfer, two counts of conspiracy to possess ammunition without a certificate, conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, and production of crack cocaine
- John Newton, 33, of Rydall Avenue, Crosby, for four years for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to supply Class B
- Aaron O'Brien, 24, of Sonning Avenue, Litherland, for six years and eight months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, and conspiracy to conceal, disguise, convert or transfer criminal property
- Matthew Reece Ball, 28, of no fixed address, for nine years and two months for supply of Class A drugs and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs
- Kayleigh Wilson, 33, of Eden Vale, Netherton, for four years and ten months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to conceal, disguise, convert or transfer criminal property
- Adam Dean, 35, of Willow Way, Liverpool, for four years and eight months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to conceal, disguise, convert or transfer criminal property
- Michael James Caldwell, 40, of Condron Road North, Litherland, for five years for conspiracy to possess prohibited firearms, two counts of conspiracy to possess ammunition without a certificate, and conspiracy to possess prohibited ammunition
- Stephen Sutter, 33, of Osborne Road, Litherland, for six years and eight months for conspiracy to supply Class A, conspiracy to conceal, disguise, convert or transfer criminal property, and possession of cannabis
- Thomas Ball, 18, of Sedburn Road, Southdene, for four years for conspiracy to possess prohibited firearms, concerned in the supply of Class B drugs, and supplying Class A drugs
Detective Chief Inspector Tony Roberts said:
"I am in no doubt that communities across Merseyside are safer now that these individuals are behind bars.
"Members of this OCG possessed weapons, such as the Skorpion, that have been used to kill innocent people in Merseyside. Victims have died after being caught in the crossfire of disputes between groups like this who depend on violence, threats and intimidation to maintain their trade in illegal drugs.
"So many lives have been torn apart by OCGs but we continue to work on a daily basis to rid our communities of them, bring offenders like these to justice and remove the extremely dangerous weapons and illicit drugs they possess from circulation.
"I want to take this opportunity to thank all officers involved in this investigation. Their dedication and commitment has led to this day and it gives me great satisfaction to see their hard work pay off.
"Their enquiries established that these criminals were in possession of dangerous weapons, significant quantities of drugs, and large sums of illicit cash. Officers on the ground then acted with courage and speed to detain the offenders in their homes, in cars and on the street.
"Twelve people will now serve prison sentences as a consequence of their actions.
"Officers and staff at Merseyside Police come to work every day to protect our communities and results such as this show how worthwhile those efforts are.
“If you want to help us in these efforts, please give us any information you have on OCG activity and we will do everything we can to protect our communities."