Six members of a Liverpool-based organised crime group have been jailed for a total of more than 36 years for supplying over £2.4 million worth of class A drugs across the UK. The gang, headed by Carl Thornhill, was responsible for large-scale distribution of controlled drugs and laundering criminal profits.
Gang's operations uncovered
Thornhill, 57, of Taplow Street, Anfield, acted as the central figure, couriering and facilitating the movement of class A and class B drugs across the country, including to Nottingham and Kent. The investigation by Merseyside Police revealed the gang supplied over 22kg of class A drugs with an estimated street value of £2.4 million and over 84kg of class B drugs worth £3.3 million.
Thornhill relied on a network of coordinators, couriers and stash house owners. Anthony Kirkpatrick, 27, of Lindale Road, Fairfield, arranged meetings between suppliers and customers and handled packages. Jaron Hunter, 33, of Carr Lane East, Croxteth, sourced communication devices and facilitated transport. Anthony Witterick, 36, of Eaton Road, West Derby, was a trusted courier. Paul Spencer, 37, of Normandale Road, Walton, was linked to a key address for storing and distributing drugs. Michael Molyneaux, 33, of Max Road, Dovecot, was a custodian of a stash house, and Martin Winstanley, 35, of Longworth Avenue, Chorley, operated as a customer and street-level dealer.
Arrests and sentences
On May 29, 2025, Witterick was arrested on the M5, and officers uncovered 15kg of class A drugs hidden in a sophisticated mechanical hide within his vehicle. Thornhill was arrested on June 17, 2025, with 75kg of ketamine in his possession. Warrants executed at connected addresses led to the recovery of over nine kilograms of cocaine, over 50,000 MDMA tablets, and over £117,000 in cash.
At Liverpool Crown Court on July 29, 2026, Thornhill was jailed for 15 years. Kirkpatrick received six years and three months, Hunter two years and three months, Witterick six years and eight months, and Spencer six years and eight months. Molyneaux was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months. Winstanley will be sentenced in September 2026.
Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Wild said: “The individuals sentenced today were part of a sophisticated network responsible for the widespread distribution of harmful drugs to our communities and beyond. Thornhill and his associates believed they could operate under the radar, but their activities were uncovered through Operation Adventure. The total sentences imposed reached more than 36 years. This result demonstrates our determination to protect the public and target those who profit from criminality. We remain committed to identifying, disrupting and dismantling organised crime groups and bring all those involved to justice.”
