Dramatic police footage has revealed the moment officers rammed a taxi to apprehend two leaders of a major British drug cartel as they attempted to flee justice.
The High-Stakes Chase and Arrest
In July 2024, undercover officers pursued a taxi carrying Andrew Fitzgerald, 35, and Sean Richardson, 34, along the A617 near Newark, Nottinghamshire. The pair were trying to escape the UK after flooding the county with crack cocaine, cocaine, and heroin.
The video shows a meticulously coordinated takedown. Four police vehicles closed in on the taxi, with one positioning itself in front, another blocking adjacent lanes, and two following closely behind. As the taxi was forced to brake, one police car rammed into its rear. Officers then rushed to open the doors and arrest both men on the ground.
Simultaneously, a third gang member attempted to destroy vital evidence by dropping drug phones into paint tins. This desperate act failed, and police recovered the phones, which provided crucial proof of the gang's operations.
A Sophisticated and Profitable Criminal Enterprise
Detectives discovered the cartel had been using five dedicated mobile phone lines to advertise, take orders, and sell Class A drugs in the Kirkby, Sutton, and Eastwood areas of Nottinghamshire, as well as in Skegness, Lincolnshire.
Between January 2023 and July 2024, the Nottingham-based operation raked in hundreds of thousands of pounds. The gang stored large volumes of drugs in designated 'stash houses' in Bulwell and Bestwood, with couriers delivering to customers.
When police raided properties linked to the cartel, they seized:
- Drugs with a street value of £125,000
- £40,000 in cash
- Expensive jewellery and weapons including an air pistol, knives, and a crossbow
The investigation was ultimately secured when police seized a mobile phone from a supplier, Tyrone Shand, which contained evidence of bulk purchases of Class A drugs.
Justice Served: Over 70 Years in Combined Sentences
On Wednesday at Nottingham Crown Court, 15 members of the gang – including a brother and sister – were jailed for a combined total of more than 70 years.
Andrew Fitzgerald admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Sean Richardson received an 8-year sentence for the same charge. Other key players, Corey Graham, Andrew Cox, and Nathan Sharp, controlled the drug lines on behalf of the leaders.
Sentencing the group, Judge Stuart Rafferty KC said there was 'no doubt this was a category one conspiracy' and that he was satisfied the group had trafficked at least 15kg, perhaps even 20kg, of Class A drugs. He condemned their 'utter disregard to the misery and risk of life'.
Detective Constable Steven Fenyn of Nottinghamshire Police's Serious Organised Crime unit stated: 'These were callous criminals who only cared about making vast amounts of money... They thought they were untouchable but we were able to systematically dismantle the group.'
