Eight men, who were members of separate organised crime gangs, have been jailed for a combined total of 34 years after prosecutors found them to be at the centre of a drugs ring attempting to flood Staffordshire with cannabis.
The men were caught when police carried out two separate stop and search operations on the M6, uncovering £113,190 and 410 bars of cannabis resin with a street value of £442,800.
An investigation into drug dealing activity had already been launched by Staffordshire Police's major organised crime unit and it began gathering intelligence on a group in Staffordshire and Cheshire, which was headed by 36-year-old Richard Coates.
Richard Coates. Credit: Staffordshire Police
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Coates' gang was conspiring with another gang in Manchester led by James McDonagh, and also a West Midlands-based group of organised criminals.
In an attempt to remain undetected, the gang used a number of different mobile phones and frequently changed the handsets from which they called each other. They also met at clandestine locations to further evade detection.
Coates was found not to have had any hands-on involvement, but he did arrange for others to commit crimes on his behalf, including movement of large amounts of money, collection and storage of drugs, and the export of steroids to Spain.
Troy Chalmers, 33, and Daniel Slater, 43, acted as Coates' deputies. The pair often sent money to an associate in Spain.
Troy Chalmers. Credit: Staffordshire Police
Daniel Slater. Credit: Staffordshire Police
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Another member of the organised crime gang, Martin Conlon, 33, worked as a courier, driving to different locations across the UK.
The full list of defendants is:
- Richard Coates, 36, of Brakespeare Street, Goldenhill. Jailed for six years and two months for conspiring to supply cannabis, money laundering and exporting Class C drugs.
- Troy Chalmers, 33, of Liverpool Road, Newcastle. Jailed for five years for conspiracy to supply cannabis and money laundering.
- Daniel Slater, 43, of Hornby Drive, Congleton. Jailed for four years and four months for conspiracy to supply cannabis, money laundering and supplying Class C drugs.
- Martin Conlon, 33, of Glebedale Road, Fenton. Jailed for three years and four months after admitting conspiracy to supply cannabis and money laundering;
- Godfrey McClean, 57, of Abercorn Street, Fenton. Jailed for three years after being convicted of conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of cannabis following an eight-week trial;
- James McDonagh, 51, from Manchester. Jailed for six years and nine months for conspiracy to supply cannabis as well as possession of Class A and B drugs;
- Stuart Lott, 35, from the West Midlands. Jailed for four years and 10 months for conspiracy to supply cannabis, money laundering, possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply and failing to provide a PIN code;
- Kevin Ward, 60, from Manchester. Jailed for 12-months and ordered to pay a £100 fine.
Source: Birmingham Mail
Featured Image Credit: Staffordshire Police