FOUR people from Dorset who were part of an organised crime gang which trafficked cocaine and cannabis across the country have been jailed.
The gang transported the drugs between Dorset, Merseyside and Pembrokeshire over an 11-month period.
Terence Harrison, aged 43, of Kings Road West, Swanage, was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, December 2.
Leigh Smith, aged 44, of Owls Road in Verwood, was sentenced to three years and nine months.
Shaun Lucas, aged 48, of Ty Cornel, Park Street, Fishguard, was sentenced to nine years and eight months.
All three had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs at an earlier hearing.
At an earlier hearing, Ozan Kilicaslan, aged 30, of Ashley Road, Poole, was sentenced to 41 weeks in prison having pleaded guilty to money laundering and conspiracy to supply class B drugs.
Charlotte Doe, aged 32, of Halves Cottages, Corfe Castle, was sentenced to 13 months and Ryan Ager, aged 34, of Pilch Bank Road, Liverpool, was sentenced to 19 months, both having pleaded guilty to money laundering.
A total of six people were jailed for their parts in the gang following a covert investigation called Operation Rookley by Dyfed-Powys Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Team.
The gang sourced the drugs from Harrison before they were used to supply the Pembrokeshire areas with couriers Kilicaslan and Smith responsible for the delivery of drugs, as well as those responsible for collecting the cash generated from the sale of the cocaine and cannabis.
Police seized 244g of cocaine as it was being transported from Dorset to Pembrokeshire in October 2021.
Despite this enforcement action, the gang continued their illicit activities until Kilicaslan was arrested in December 2021 on his return journey from Lucas’ home address.
His vehicle smelt strongly of cannabis and he tested positive for the presence of cocaine during a roadside drug swipe. Within his vehicle officers located £15,000 linked to Lucas.
In January 2022, Doe was arrested on her return journey to Dorset from Lucas’ home address.
Officers located more than £26,700 in her vehicle in two bundles, which were later forensically linked to both Lucas and Harrison. The following day the gang continued their endeavour and Lucas travelled to Dorset to meet with Harrison.
In March 2022 a two-week arrest phase saw eight people arrested in the Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Dorset and Pembrokeshire areas.
Eight of those people were charged with being involved in a conspiracy to supply cocaine.
Harrison, Lucas and Smith were also later charged with being involved in a conspiracy to supply cannabis. All three admitted both offences.
Kilicaslan later admitted his part in the conspiracy to supply cannabis and his involvement in money laundering offences.
Doe and Ager admitted to their involvement in money laundering offences and James later admitted to her involvement in the supply of cannabis.
Senior investigating officer DI Richard Lewis said: “This was a lengthy operation involving a number of departments across the force, who investigated intelligence, coordinated a series of warrants, interviewed the defendants and carried out detailed enquiries into their activity.”
Leone James, aged 33, of Precelly Crescent, Stop and Call, Goodwick, will be sentenced on Friday, 16 December, having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B drugs.
An eighth person, Steven John Kerr, aged 35, of Tracks Lane, Billinge, near Wigan, was found not guilty of money laundering following trial.
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