Seven members of a Liverpool drugs gang that earned up to £1 million a year have been jailed for a combined total of 60 years. The organised crime group, headed by Craig Clifton, supplied cocaine, heroin and cannabis over a period of about seven years before being dismantled in a series of police raids.
Raids uncover drugs in Pokémon Go packaging
Merseyside Police recovered blocks of drugs wrapped in Pokémon Go branded packaging during the operation, which ended with raids across South Liverpool on November 13 last year. The drugs seized had an estimated street value of between £1,007,621 and £1,677,803, including 82kg of cannabis, 4.3kg of cocaine and half a kilogram of heroin. Officers also recovered £187,809 in cash.
Liverpool Crown Court heard the group operated three graft phones offering cocaine, heroin and cannabis for sale. One line alone had 877 contacts and was said to have an annual earning potential of up to £1 million, with the operation running between 2018 and 2025.
Sentences handed down
Clifton, 40, of no fixed address, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis, possession of criminal property, converting criminal property, two counts of being concerned in money laundering and breaching a suspended sentence order. He showed no reaction as he was jailed for 18 years.
Sam Murphy, 35, of Adcote Road in Dovecot, described by Judge Louise Brandon as Clifton's "right hand man", pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis, possession of criminal property and converting criminal property. He was handed 12 years.
Robert McGregor, 44, of Fordlea Road in Norris Green, involved in the storage, movement and preparation of drugs, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis and two counts of possession of criminal property. He was jailed for eight years.
Dealers and money launderer sentenced
Street dealers Francis Stewart, 25, of Stonegate Drive in Dingle, and Connor Whittle, 29, of Dingle Vale, each received six years. Joshua De-Asha, 34, of Wordsworth Street in Toxteth, also a street dealer, was jailed for six years. Dylan McParland, 28, of Beresford Road in Dingle, said to have been involved in up to 15 drug deals per day, received four years.
Jason Eaton, 31, of Montpelier Drive in Dingle, was convicted of being concerned in money laundering after a trial and handed a two-year imprisonment suspended for 18 months with 180 hours of unpaid work.
Judge and police comment
Sentencing, Judge Brandon told the defendants: "You have all contributed to the degradation and human misery that drugs cause to those take them, their families and the wider community, which is affected by crimes committed by those who become addicted to those drugs. It is inevitable that your families will also suffer because of your criminality."
Turning to Clifton, she added: "You were at the head of this drug trafficking and money laundering enterprise. You were involved in the wholesale purchase of class A and B drugs for a lengthy period. You had others working for you, running other graft lines. Your control and influence extended to every aspect of this operation."
A ninth defendant, Demi McPartland, 29, of Jacob Street in Dingle, admitted participating in the activities of an organised crime group and was handed a community order with 120 hours of unpaid work. A 10th defendant, 53-year-old Ruth Mackenzie, also of Jacob Street, will be sentenced at a later date.
Merseyside Police's Detective Inspector Amanda French said: "This was a significant and lengthy investigation into drug dealing by an organised crime group based in South Liverpool. The defendants played their part in the operation which involved the supply of commercial quantities of cocaine, heroin and cannabis. Thanks to the tenacity and dedication of the investigation team, we were able to bring this OCG down and put nine people before the courts. Today's sentencing is a testament to the hard work of those officers."
