Group sentenced after importing drugs from Europe to cut and sell from Darwen
11 members of the gang been jailed for more than 46 years between them
Last updated 17th Feb 2023
A gang who imported millions of pounds worth of drugs from Europe to sell on from their HQ in Darwen have been sentenced.
Members of the group put on forensic suits to weigh and cut more than 200 kilos of amphetamine with mixing agents to be sold in the north and south of England.
Footage from their base showed black bin liners full of cannabis being dropped off in Darwen - it was then packaged and sold on by drug dealers.
Thousands of pounds in cash, mobile phones, drugs and even a gun have been found since the investigation started in March 2021.
At one point, up to £500,000 worth of cannabis was even found hidden in furniture.
One of the gang also travelled to Bristol to buy a tipper truck. He returned to Darwen the next day with eight bin bags full of cannabis bush.
Six men have been jailed at Preston Crown Court either today (17 February) or yesterday (16 February).
They are:
- Zachariah Deaffern, 31, of Turncroft Road, Darwen. Jailed for 12 years
- Sam Stone, 58, of Lees Court, Darwen. Jailed for nine and a half years.
- John Rowe, 53, of Lynthorpe Road, Blackburn. Jailed for three years and nine months.
- Dexter Ryan, 59, of Avon Close, Blackburn. Jailed for four and a half years.
- Phillip Alderson, 34, of Bolton Road, Darwen. Jailed for three years.
- Joshua Main, 25, of Ivinson Road, Darwen. Jailed for four and a half years.
Nine men were sentenced previously:
- Pajtim Shehu, 41, of no fixed address. Jailed for 16 months.
- Phillip Peters, 41, of Edward Tyler Road, London. Jailed for 30 months.
- James Moran, 33, of Holden Fold, Darwen. Jailed for 16 months.
- Andrew Berry, 30, of Hadrian’s Camp, Carlisle. Jailed for two years.
- Nicholas Wilson, 41, of Wood Street, Lytham. Jailed for 40 months.
- Sean Bradshaw, 55, of Leven Grove, Darwen. Jailed for 12 months, suspended for 18 months.
- Richard Panter, 35, of Longsight Road, Ramsbottom. Jailed for nine months, suspended for 18 months.
- Lee Booth, 35, of Holcombe Road, Greenmount. Received a community order.
- Daniel Pimley, 35, of Andrew Close, Blackburn. Received a community order.
Joanne Smith, 49, of Elswick Street, Darwen, will be sentenced on 22 February after being charged with conspiring to supply cannabis.
Six others will be sentenced on 13 April:
- Jake McCosh, 25, of Pitville Street, Darwen, is charged with conspiring to supply cocaine.
- Anthony Richardson, 38, of Mackenzie Street, Bolton, is charged with conspiring to supply amphetamine.
- John Cropper, 45, of Roseway Avenue, Cadishead, is charged with conspiring to supply amphetamine.
- Taylor Walker, 29, of Staining Road, Blackpool is charged with conspiring to supply cannabis.
- Nicholas Mullin, 33, of no fixed abode, is charged with conspiring to supply amphetamine and cannabis.
- Ashley Morris, 31, of Waters Edge, Middleton, is charged with conspiring to supply amphetamine.
DS Stu Peall, from East Division, said:
"This was a complex investigation into a serious criminal gang who imported drugs on a massive scale to cut at their Darwen headquarters and then sell on elsewhere for huge profits.
"Such was the scale and of the operation, they did not seem overly concerned when shipments were confiscated. They simply ordered more.
"Even though there was a clear structure to the organisation – with each member playing their own key role, all were prepared to get their hands dirty.
"That was demonstrated by the heads of the OCG, Deaffern and Stone, putting on forensic suits and then spending hours on end preparing and cutting drugs.
"I hope the dismantling of this organisation and the sentences handed down by the Judge so far sends out a clear message to those who seek to commit crime in East Lancashire.
"No matter how sophisticated and protected you think your criminal enterprise is, we will find it, we will dismantle it and we will put you before the courts."