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07 Mar 2012
An organised crime gang from
Warrington has been jailed for almost 100
years for conspiracy to supply and distribute
Class A drugs across the North West.
The 18 men were handed sentences
ranging from 3 years to 9 years and 8 months
during a special two day hearing at Warrington Crown Court (6th and
7th March).
Operation Cortex was investigated by Cheshire
Police’s Force Crime Operations Unit. The operation was launched in
May 2010 and involved many hours of intelligence
gathering over a period of seven months.
The operation reached its climax in December 2010 when one of
the gang was arrested in Warrington after a car was stop checked by
officers. The vehicle contained four kilos of
cocaine with an estimated street value of over
£300,000.00.
This arrest was then followed by a series of warrants executed
at addresses of other suspects in Warrington and the seizure of
Class A drugs, large amounts of
cash and an imitation firearm.
Leon Cullen, from Warrington,
was the mastermind behind the organised crime
gang. The 24-year-old co-ordinated the criminal network
with his close associate John Large. Cullen had a
violent reputation within the community and used
trusted associates to distribute the cocaine and provide
opportunities to launder his assets.
Christopher Bullock and Graham
Berryman also had significant roles
within the gang distributing the drugs.
The movements of gang members were captured on
surveillance footage. The footage shows members of the
gang ferrying around and dropping off packages, which were later
found to contain illegal drugs and cash.
The majority of this activity took place at car parks
across Warrington. These drugs were then
distributed across Cheshire, the North West and
further afield to areas including Derbyshire,
Lincolnshire and
Nottinghamshire.
DI
Kev Bennett of
Cheshire Police’s Force Crime Operations Unit, who led the
operation, said:
Operation Cortex was the result of months of intelligence
gathering in relation to the activities of these individuals. The
gang - led by Cullen - hatched an intricate plot to
distribute Class A drugs across Warrington, the North West and
further a field. Members of the gang have shown a
blatant disregard for the law – with
little or no thought behind the potential implications of
their illegal activities.
We hope that the lengthy sentences handed down to the defendants
will act as a deterrent to others. We also hope
that the successful conclusion to this operation will
reassure members of the public that we are
actively targeting and successfully prosecuting those
involved in the supply and distribution of illegal
drugs.
This investigation has struck at the heart of this gang
by removing the hierarchy who organise the drug supply and
reap the benefits from the profits generated. Illegal drugs
have no place in Cheshire and we will continue to work
alongside colleagues from other forces to track down those
responsible for this type of crime and bring them to justice.
Information from members of the public is vital in the
fight against drug related crime and we would urge the
people of Cheshire to support the efforts of local officers. Anyone
with any information in relation to suspected drug use or supply is
urged to call Cheshire Police on 101 or
Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555
111.
-Detective Inspector Kev Bennett, Cheshire
Constabulary
As part of Cheshire Police’s organised crime campaign residents
are being asked to think twice about who they are dealing with to
help tackle organise crime across the county. The ‘Do You Know Who You′re Dealing With?’
campaign highlights the link between so called petty or
victimless crimes and more serious, organised
crime such as armed robbery or drug dealing. Organised
crime is any crime committed specifically for profit, where those
involved see crime as a business, which sets organised crime apart
from other types of crime which can often be committed on the spur
of the moment.
Communities are being asked to help tackle organised
crime by letting the police know about those people in the
community who live an extravagant life style with
no obvious means to support such a lavish
existence. With help from Cheshire residents, criminals
can not only be prosecuted for the crimes they commit, but the
money they make or the things they buy using profits from illegal
activities can also be confiscated by the courts.
