Coventry drug gang jailed for combined 60 years
One of them is wanted after failing to turn up for trial.
A criminal gang which was involved in supplying tens of kilos of drugs and laundered over a million pounds has been sentenced to more than 60 years behind bars.
The majority of the ring used encro phones to co-ordinate their illegal dealings until officers from the West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) were able to decipher from messages exactly who was involved.
The gang of five - including a father and son - all played some role in the large-scale operation to supply cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines and launder cash between March and June 2020.
That was until officers managed to stop the illegal empire from Coventry after breaking through their secret phone network.
One of the gang, Michael Browne, is now wanted after failing to attend a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
The 28-year-old was convicted of supplying drugs and laundering large sums of money in his absence and jailed for 24 years on 30 May.
His details have now been circulated across not only the UK, but across the world, and he faces even more time behind bars when caught.
Callum Hewitt, 26, of Frederick Neal Avenue, Coventry, pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine during a trial and was jailed for eight years.
Jake Neilson, 33, of Berners Close, Coventry, admitted being involved in the supply of Class A and B drugs and money laundering. He was jailed for 19 years and nine months.
Keilum Doherty, 30, of Shakespeare Street, Coventry, admitted supplying Class B drugs and money laundering. He was sentenced to eight years and six months.
Michael Browne Sr, 61, of Berners Close, Coventry, pleaded guilty over the supply of Class B drugs and was jailed for three years and nine months.
Records from his son’s phone showed they were not only working together to supply multi kilos of cannabis, but the drugs came via their own production.
It comes after West Midlands Police launched Operation Target.
Officers will be using local intelligence, seizing goods, carrying out warrants and targeting offenders as part of an ongoing crackdown against serious and organised crime.
Chief Inspector Peter Cooke, from ROCU, said:
"This was a significant drugs and money laundering operation which we were able to bring down. We won't give up until Browne Junior is arrested and brought fully to justice.
"This is part of our ongoing work to destroy drug networks and criminal gangs and this will carry on as part of Op Target."