An organised crime group trafficking large amounts of drugs into Wrexham from Merseyside have been jailed for a combined total of nearly 35 years.
Officers from North Wales and Merseyside Police thwarted the gang in October following an eight-month covert investigation into a conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and ketamine into the city.
The movements and communications of those involved were investigated through obtaining phone data and messages.
Officers found the drugs were being sourced from a supplier in Merseyside – who headed the gang – and were being brought into Wrexham by couriers.
A number of warrants were carried out across Caia Park, Wrexham and Merseyside to arrest the group in October.
Cumulatively, £77,000 worth of Class A and B drugs were seized as part of the operation, as well as a large quantity of cash totalling £20,000.
It is estimated around £770,000 worth of drugs were trafficked throughout the period of the conspiracy.
All seven members of the gang admitted their roles in the conspiracy and were jailed today (Friday, January 24th) at Mold Crown Court.
For conspiring to supply cocaine, heroin and ketamine, the judge gave the following sentences:
Anthony Howey, 40, of Rupert Drive, Liverpool – seven years. He also received a six-month prison sentence for dangerous driving, which will run consecutively.
Rhys Jones, 25, currently residing at HMP Berwyn – five years. He also received a six-month prison sentence for an unrelated case of harassment, which will run consecutively.
Edmund Partyka, 26, currently residing at HMP Berwyn – four years and four months.
Dwayne Pritchard, 26, of Bran, Plas Madoc, Wrexham – four years and nine months.
Kane Reeves, 21, of Montgomery Road, Wrexham – three years and six months.
Garry Sullivan, 49, of Milestone Road, Westvale, Merseyside – four years.
Jason Young, 24, of Bryn Hafod, Wrexham – five years and seven months.
On May 20th, Rhys Jones from Wrexham, who held a leading role within the gang as the primary contact for the upstream supplier, was arrested and subsequently remanded into police custody for an unrelated matter.
Despite this, he continued his contact with the gang from prison.
But four months later, a dedicated search team at HMP Berwyn entered Jones’ cell where he attempted to conceal a phone, which was found to have the phone numbers of the gang within the device.
On July 12th, Gary Sullivan from Merseyside was stopped by an officer in Wrexham, where he admitted having drugs in the car, but claimed not to know how much.
The officer seized high purity cocaine, heroin and ketamine, along with Sullivan’s phone, and found over £400 cash in the car.
He was arrested and subsequently released under investigation.
Anthony Howey was the next to be arrested on October 1st when he was seen driving in the Merseyside area.
In an attempt to stop his car, Howey fled the scene in his vehicle, driving up a grass verge before colliding with a tree and three Merseyside Police vehicles.
On arrest, he was in possession of around £17,000 in cash and a tennis ball size of a white rock substance.
The following day, the rest of the group were arrested.
Speaking following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Dean Jones said: “The sentences today send a clear message that we will not tolerate drug dealing in our communities. Class A substances like cocaine and heroin ruin lives and bring misery to users and their families.
“Tackling these offences will remain a high priority for North Wales Police and we remain committed to working with colleagues across the border, and with partner agencies, to stay one step ahead of these criminals.
“Today’s result is not only testament to the hard work and dedication of the officers involved, but also to the support we receive from the public who assist greatly in tackling this crime, and I hope they are reassured by these convictions.
“This successful operation should serve as a warning of the consequences to anyone who is involved in such crime. We will continue to make North Wales the safest place in the UK to live, work and visit.”
Detective Sergeant Shaun McNee from Merseyside Police’s County Lines Investigation team said: “This sentencing shows the success of neighbouring forces working together to take county lines offenders off our streets.
“This was a complex investigation, and the warrants carried out show how we proactively investigate serious organised crime and county lines in our communities.
“We know the devastation that drugs cause and Merseyside Police remains relentless in our pursuit of these criminals and ending their drugs trade. Project Medusa is our daily force response to county lines, and we continue to work collaboratively with a wide range of partners and agencies to disrupt serious organised crime and put criminals behind bars.
“I would encourage the public to come forward with any information about suspected drug supply in their area, and we will keep taking positive action.”
