Drug couriers who disguised £1.9 million of cocaine as Christmas presents are among seven dealers jailed across the North East. The criminals, based in communities from Gateshead to North Shields and South Shields to Newcastle, have been brought to justice and stopped from plaguing the region with illegal substances.
Couriers caught with cocaine wrapped as gifts
Robert Murphy and Claire Turnbull used Christmas wrapping paper in bags for life to hide 19 kilos of cocaine, but were caught red-handed after being stopped by police. On December 18 2024, around 9.45am, the pair were in text contact, arranging for Murphy to meet Turnbull for her to drive him to drop off the drugs. Murphy put two red bags for life in his Mercedes, containing 19 kilo blocks of cocaine covered with Christmas wrapping paper.
As they drove down the A19, they were followed by a marked police car. They stopped near Sunderland and officers spoke to them and found the packages of drugs, worth between £570,000 and £1.9 million. Turnbull, 41, of Kendal Crescent, Gateshead, who has 21 previous convictions, and Murphy, 44, of Pottersway, Gateshead, who has 22 previous convictions, both admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply. Turnbull was jailed for 61 months and Murphy got 56 months.
Dealer with fake Rolex and unexplained deposits
Owen Caris, a drug dealer who treated himself to expensive jewellery while on benefits, was caught after his mum gave police his phone number. Over a period of 22 weeks, 10,221 bulk messages were sent from the phone number to customers advertising cocaine and cannabis for sale. Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said the value of the drugs sold could be as much as £131,228 over the 22 week period, although it is unclear if it was cocaine or cannabis on occasions so the value could be as low as £22,176 if it was all cannabis.
When arrested, Caris, 24, of Ferndene Grove, Ryton, Gateshead, was found in possession of a fake Rolex worth £1,000, a 9-carat gold necklace, chain and ring worth up to £12,000 and an iPhone worth £750. Caris, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis between March and August last year and was jailed for 32 months.
Repeat offender and machete attack
Jamie Devlin, a drug dealer jailed eight years ago, was found to be at it again when police pulled him over on suspicion of a driving offence. On May 19 last year, police spotted him in a car on Scotswood Road, Newcastle. He was found to be in possession of various quantities of cocaine in grip-seal bags, with 23 0.5g deals and 14 1g deals, said to be worth around £1,000. He pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply on the basis of social supply, saying he was going away for the weekend with three friends. The 32-year-old, of Berry Edge Road, Consett, County Durham, was jailed for 14 months.
Wayne Layburn, a cocaine dealer who peddled "short-lived highs for long-term misery", was in a bedroom in a house raided by police, who found cocaine, cash and several mobile phones on December 4 last year. Judge Tim Gittins said Layburn turned to using drugs after a family tragedy and quickly ran up a £2,000 debt. The judge said: "With no prospects of repaying that, and being assaulted for your trouble, you were forced to act as an agent for your dealer." Layburn, 28, of Bridge Road, North Shields, admitted being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug between October 26 and December 5 last year. He was locked up for two years and eight months and prosecutors have also launched proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Caydon Sean, a machete attack victim feared he was going to be killed when a drug dealer turned violent over a debt. The man was struck to the head and arm with the dangerous weapon by Sean, from whom he had bought narcotics in the past. It was around 8pm on December 4 last year that Sean attended an address in South Shields and immediately set about the victim. He was left with three wounds caused by the machete - to the head, arm and wrist - and the victim needed hospital treatment. Joe Hedworth, prosecuting, said: "He bled heavily and genuinely feared he was going to be killed during the attack." Sean, 23, of South Shields, who has 11 previous convictions, including for having a bladed article, and was on a community order at the time for driving offences, was found guilty by a jury of wounding with intent. He has been jailed for four years and nine months and was given a ten-year restraining order.
Dealer with £127,000 unexplained deposits
Raza Hussain, a drug dealer who continued dealing after being caught by police and had more than £127,000 of "unexplained" deposits in his bank account, has been jailed. On May 13 2023, police stopped a Seat Leon on West Road, Newcastle. The court heard police noticed a strong smell of cannabis and saw Nitrous Oxide canisters in the passenger footwell. There was a tub containing ten bags of cocaine worth around £500 and a Pringles container which had £745 in it. Hussain was arrested but managed to slip handcuffs and run off, although he was then chased and caught. Hussain, 26, of Western Avenue, West Denton, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of MDMA, cannabis and ketamine, possessing cocaine with intent to supply, transferring criminal property and possessing criminal property. He was jailed for a total of four years.
