Five jailed after heroin trafficked from Liverpool to Cornwall

Five men involved in supplying class A drugs from Liverpool to Cornwall have been jailed.

The men were members of an organised crime group that were responsible for trafficking heroin between August 2021 and July 2023.

Devon and Cornwall Police say 47kg of heroin was moved in 45 parcels.

They estimate the group made £4m in profit.

The men were arrested on Thursday 6 July 2023, when police carried out joint warrants in East Cornwall and Liverpool.

They pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs at Truro Crown Court and were sentenced to a combined 47 years in prison on Friday.

• Daniel Staunton, 34, of Finch Meadow Close, Fazarkley, was sentenced to nine years.

• Simon Mitchell, 34, of Lower Fore Street, Saltash, was sentenced to 10 years.

• John Arnaud, 52, of Wentworth Way, Saltash, was sentenced to eight years.

Two of the men were also sentenced for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

• Shaun Quinn, 37, of Greenhill Road, Allerton, was sentenced to 12 years.

• Daniel Bridson, 46, of Round Hey, Stockbridge Village, was sentenced to eight years.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Jolliff from Devon and Cornwall Police said:

"Operation Modular was a joint operation with Merseyside Police, led by the Cornwall Proactive team to tackle drug supply within East Cornwall.

"This was a lengthy investigation which concluded with a day of action on Thursday 6th July 2023, where in excess of 50 colleagues from both forces combined to carry out simultaneous search warrants in Cornwall and Liverpool.

"This operation has disrupted very significant amounts of class A drugs from arriving into our communities and I’m grateful for the collaboration between both forces to combat this organised crime group.

"The sentences imposed reflect the seriousness of their criminality and should assist in discouraging others from conducting similar activity."

Detective Sergeant Gerard Farley from Merseyside Police said: "Officers from Project Medusa – Merseyside’s initiative to tackle county lines drug dealing and criminal exploitation, continue to work alongside colleagues from Devon and Cornwall to close county lines and safeguard vulnerable individuals from the grip of toxic gangs.

"Today’s sentencing shows the success of working together with other forces to take suspected county lines offenders off our streets.

"Our work to catch these criminals and bring them to justice continues on a daily basis and I would ask anyone who has information about this kind of activity to come forward so action can be taken."