East Lancs drugs gang jailed for 90 years collectively
The final five members of an Organised Crime Group (OCG) who were supplying drugs on a commercial scale into the North West have been jailed for a total of nearly 15 years.
That takes the total sentence for all members of the gangs to a total of 90 years.
Police launched Operation Florence last year following concerns raised by residents in Darwen about drug use by children in the area and that youngsters were being exploited into supply illegal substances after getting into debt.
The gang’s head Usman Akhter controlled a sophisticated network bringing hundreds of kilos of cocaine and cannabis into the region.
The OCG’s tactics to try to avoid detection included using the façade of car sales business – Burnley-based Elite and Prestige run by Akhter’s girlfriend Jessica Humphreys – to provide vehicles for criminal activity, including moving drugs around, and to explain large deposits of cash.
Trusted and high-level members of the gang also used encrypted mobile phones known as EncroChat phones which they wrongly believed would mask their conversations from the police.
The phones, which cost around £1500 for 6 months service; the user has a unique “handle” which can only communicate with other handles by mutual consent. In addition to encrypted communications, the handsets are programmed with a host of functions designed to minimise the risk of the devices ever being accessed or downloaded, if seized. Text messages are automatically deleted from the handsets, and devices can be remotely wiped.
As part of the investigation warrants were executed at 25 addresses – including properties in Darwen, Blackburn and Northwich in Cheshire – in May and June and a large quantity of suspected cocaine and cannabis was recovered. Officers also seized a number of vehicles and weapons.
While many of the properties used by the gang in the UK were unobtrusive and modest a villa in Marbella, Spain ‘Los Flamingos’ where Akhter based himself showed the more lavish trappings of the conspiracy.
Besides Akhter other main players included Shaheed Virmani from Manchester who supplied to and received from Akhter large amounts of cannabis and cocaine and Marbella-based Liam Martyn who was involved in the supply of drugs from Spain to the UK. Martyn was shot in Marbella in May 2020 and arrested in Plymouth while on the run.
Yesterday (December 21) the final five members of the OCG were sentenced at Preston Crown Court.
Craig Hollings (05/05/1973), Sarah Street, Darwen. Guilty to conspiring to supply Cocaine and Cannabis. Eight years.
Scott McKenna (21/05/1993), Hazel Avenue, Darwen. Guilty to supplying Cocaine. Two years seven months.
George Lodge (05/02/2002), Perry Street, Darwen. Guilty to supplying cocaine. Two years three months.
Augustine McDonagh (16/04/1988), Bobbin Close, Accrington. Guilty to Criminal Damage and threats to cause damage by fire. Two years one month.
Billy Beeke (30/04/1994), Brandwood Street, Darwen. Guilty to supplying cannabis. Community order.
Det Insp Martin Melvin, from the East Exploitation Team, said: “This OCG thought they could live the high life by exploiting the most vulnerable in society, including children. I am pleased all its members have now been dealt with by the courts and the significant total sentence received reflects the seriousness of their criminal actions.
“Op Florence, which was a major operation involving considerable police resources, was launched directly on the back of concerns raised by members of the public. I would encourage anyone concerned about criminal activity in their area to contact the police, knowing that we will act on that information and take the appropriate action.”
The following defendants were sentenced at Preston Crown Court earlier this year.
Usman Akhter (21/5/84), Sarah Street, Darwen. Conspiracy to supply Cocaine and Cannabis. 13 years
Shaeed Virmani (12/2/1993), Warren Drive, Swinton. Conspiracy to supply Cocaine and Cannabis. 11 years
Liam Martyn (24/2/1993), Barnes Avenue, Dronfield, Derbyshire. Conspiracy to supply Cocaine and Cannabis. Seven years
Tariq Ajaib (2/6/1971) Sarah Street, Darwen. Conspiracy to supply Cannabis. Four years six months
Ardit Rrahmani (10/10/1998), Astbury Chase, Darwen. Conspiracy to supply Cocaine and Cannabis. Six years nine months
Rory Compton (19/10/1990) Ash Grove, Darwen. Conspiracy to supply Cocaine and Cannabis. Six years
Joseph Ginley 10/11/1984) Milking Lane, Darwen. Conspiracy to supply Cocaine. Six years four months
James Burrows (14/08/1998) Plantation Road, Blackburn. Conspiracy to supply Cannabis and being concerned in the supply of Cocaine. 12 months suspended
Kieran McKenna (17/06/1984) Griffin Close, Burnley. Conspiracy to supply Cocaine. Two years suspended
Ellis Gorman (17/08/1993) Cross Barn Walk, Darwen. Possession with intent to supply Cocaine. Four years
Jessica Humphreys (30/05/1999) Domenica Avenue, Darwen. Being concerned in the supply of Cannabis. Community order
Liam Parker (04/01/1993) Atlas Street, Darwen. Possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis. Three years and ten months.
Mark Hopwood 22/12/1991, Shepherd’s Close, Ellesmere Port. Conspiracy to import and supply cannabis. Five years
Michael Ryan Young 3/11/1990. Alexandra Mews, Blackburn. Conspiracy to supply cannabis and being concerned in the supply of cocaine. Four years six months
Samuel Howard 3/01/1996. Duckworth Street, Darwen. Conspiracy to produce and supply cannabis. Two years eight months
Jack Beeke 8/02/1993. Church Terrace, Darwen. Conspiracy to produce and supply cannabis. Two years suspended
Mark Jeal 28/03/1984 Pilmuir Road, Blackburn. Conspiracy to supply cannabis. Two years suspended
Clare Lester 6/05/96 Duckworth Street, Darwen. Allowing premises to be used for the production of cannabis. Community Order.
Anyone with concerns about drug-dealing or any other criminal activity in their area can call police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted, in confidence, on 0800 555111.