They ‘conspired to start a gang war’ police said
Members of an ‘industrial’ drugs ring operating across the North West organised gun and arson attacks on rivals, police say.
It comes as seven men from Warrington were jailed for their roles in the ‘ large-scale commercial drugs business’ which ‘conspired to start a gang war.’
The enterprise was brought down after law enforcement hacked the encrypted EncroChat network.
All seven were – who were found to have usernames on the top secret network – were involved in ‘obtaining multi-kilo amounts of cannabis, cocaine, and amphetamine through several sources, predominately from the Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham areas’ Cheshire Police said.
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Nathan Simpson, Nathan Davies and John Lally, all 33, played ‘leading’ roles. Between them they co-ordinated the transportation, storage and distribution of cannabis, cocaine and amphetamines at a ‘significant scale’ the forced added.
Simpson and Davies also controlled firearms and, police said, they planned ‘drive-by shootings’ of the members of rival organised crime groups (OCGs).
Simpson spoke to others with the intention of hiring them to carry out the ‘punishment shootings.’
Lally, who reported to Simpson, is also said to have been involved in a disupute and conpsired with Simpson and another man, 34 year-old Daniel Roberts, to ‘ set fire to home addresses, vehicles and business premises of rival gang members’ Cheshire Police said.
Roberts, Steven Dodd, 33, Connor Lawton, 30, and Dominic Bourdet, 40, were said to have been ‘trusted members’ of the operation who were responsible for collecting, storing and distributing the drugs.
Experts said they were involved in the supply of 115.283kg of cannabis, 10.982kg of cocaine, and 63.44kg of amphetamines.
Six of them were arrested following rqaids in November last year. Lawton was arrested the following month at Manchester Airport.
During the raids officers seized drugs, cash, mobile phones, and luxury items such as Rolex watches and other designer goods.
The group were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday.
Nathan Simpson, 33, of Birtles Road, Warrington, jailed for 16 years and 2 months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine), two counts of conspiracy to supply class B drugs (amphetamine, cannabis), possession of class B drugs (cannabis),and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence to another.
Nathan Davies, 33, of Hume Street, Warrington, jailed for 9 years and 8 months for conspiracy to supply class B drugs (cannabis), production of class B drugs (cannabis extracts), possession of class B drugs (cannabis),and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence to another.
John Lally, 33, of Fairclough Street, Warrington, jailed for 12 years and 4 months years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine), three counts of conspiracy to supply class B drugs (amphetamine and cannabis), possession with intent to supply class A drugs (cocaine), handling stolen goods, encourage and assisting in the commission of an offence, and arson with intent to endanger life.
Steven Dodd, 33, of Watkin Street, Warrington, jailed for 6 years and 9 months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine), conspiracy to supply class B drugs (cannabis), and possession of class B drugs (cannabis).
Connor Lawton, 30, of Aspinall Close, Warrington, jailed for 3 years and 4 months for conspiracy to supply class B drugs (cannabis)
Daniel Roberts, 34, of Sandfields Crescent, Warrington, jailed for 3 years and 6 months for conspiracy to supply class B drugs (cannabis)
Dominic Bourdet, 40, of Thelwall Lane, Warrington, jailed for 3 years and 8 months for conspiracy to supply class B drugs (cannabis), possession of class B drugs (amphetamine), possession of class B drugs (cannabis).
Member of a Warrington based Organised Crime Gang (OCG) who led their commercial drugs operation through EncroChat have been jailed.
Following the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Nick Henderson, of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit said: “Today’s sentencing brings to a close what has been an extremely lengthy and complex investigation, and I welcome the sentences that have been handed to all seven men.“Davies, Simpson, and Lally were all key players in the large-scale commercial drugs business supplying substantial amounts of cannabis, cocaine, and amphetamine in Warrington and the wider Northwest Region.
“They entrusted their subordinates to assist in the onward sale of the drugs and even conspired to start a war with a rival gang, putting the lives of innocent members of the public at risk while they hid behind the proceeds of their crimes.
“They used EncroChat believing that they could operate under the radar, using an encrypted and sophisticated device that would keep their communication secretive in order to avoid detection.“However, after EncroChat was infiltrated officers were able to comb through all the messages and reveal their illegal activities, meaning that they are now facing a combined total of 55 years and 5 months behind bars.“This shows that no matter what you think you are doing to cover your tracks, we are one step ahead. We will do everything we can to make sure that each member of these OCGs pay for the misery that they bring to communities across Cheshire.”