Dramatic footage has shown police officers ramming a taxi carrying two leaders of a drugs syndicate in Nottinghamshire. Andrew Fitzgerald, 35, and Sean Richardson, 34, were caught on the A617 near Newark in July 2024 after flooding the county with crack cocaine, cocaine and heroin.
During the pursuit, another gang member tried to hide evidence by submerging two drug phones in paint cans, but officers located them, retrieving crucial evidence that helped dismantle the network.
The 15-member cartel used five mobile phone lines to advertise, take orders and distribute Class A drugs in Kirkby, Sutton and Eastwood in Nottinghamshire, as well as Skegness in Lincolnshire. Between January 2023 and July 2024, they amassed hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Raids on properties linked to the gang uncovered drugs worth £125,000, £40,000 in cash, expensive jewellery and weapons including an air pistol, knives and a crossbow. The breakthrough came when police seized a phone belonging to supplier Tyrone Shand, revealing bulk purchases of Class A drugs.
On Wednesday, 15 gang members, including a brother and sister, were sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to a combined total of more than 70 years. Judge Stuart Rafferty KC said there was "no doubt this was a category one conspiracy" and that at least 15kg of Class A drugs were trafficked, adding the operation was "a 24-hour a day" enterprise.
Detective Constable Steven Fenyn, of Nottinghamshire Police's Serious Organised Crime unit, said: "These were callous criminals who only cared about making vast amounts of money. They thought they were untouchable but we dismantled the group."
