North-east gang behind £13m international drug smuggling operation that sent 'mules' to Thailand

Yahoo

5 days ago

Ten criminals are facing a combined 75 years in prison for orchestrating an international drug smuggling operation that involved sending "mules" to Thailand to retrieve illegal narcotics.
The North-east gang, believed to be led by 30-year-old Jordan Stoker and based in County Durham, was involved in a large-scale operation, according to specialist police.
When the operation was dismantled, cocaine and cannabis with a street value of £13m were seized. Following their charges, all ten individuals confessed to their crimes and were sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on Friday, August 1. This followed a comprehensive investigation led by officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU).
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Stoker, of Hambleton Road in Coundon, Bishop Auckland admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to fraudulently evade a ban on importing controlled drugs - and he will face 19 years behind bars. His mother Sarah Leighton, father Brian Stoker and half-brother Ethan Smith have all also been sentenced.
The gang's operation spanned from Durham to Thailand and the police mounted Operation Box to stop them. The criminal scheme involved drug mules being dropped at airports and flying to Thailand. There large quantities of cannabis were obtained, before the mules flew back to the UK and smuggled the drugs into North East communities.
Brian Stoker, 48, of Birch Avenue, Shildon, admitted the latter conspiracy charge and was sentenced to five years and two months in prison. Paul Lamb, 45, of McCullagh Gardens in Bishop Auckland, admitted the same charge and will be jailed for seven years and two months. The pair had been involved in taking drugs mules to and from airports.
Leighton, 48, and Smith, 23, both of Queen Street, Bishop Auckland, were given sentences of 22 months and 18 months respectively, each suspended for two years. They admitted money laundering charges - as their role had been to count and store cash.
Christopher, Shaun and Ian Sowerby - all of Teesdale Walk, Shildon, admitted the same charges. Christopher Sowerby, 30, and Shaun Sowerby, 37, were both jailed for 13 years and one month. Ian Sowerby, 32, was jailed for ten years and ten months.
'Safe house'
The trio had, police said, operated a "safe house" storing the drugs ready for onward distribution. Overall, more than £280k in cash was seized over the course of the investigation, while 1.3 tonnes of cannabis and 30kg of cocaine was also recovered. This had a street value of an estimated £13m.
Matthew Goodwin - of Kinnaird House, Curtis Street, Wigan, and Trelawny Brown, - of Leedham Close, Sheffield - both admitted their part in the conspiracy. Each acted as the drugs mules themselves. Goodwin, 25, was jailed for three years and nine months, while Brown, 30, will face three years and four months behind bars.
NEROCU Detective Inspector Simon Drenon, who led the investigation, said: "This is a great result for the region and a fierce display of partnership working demonstrating a united front against drug supply. I want to thank everyone involved in this investigation, it has been incredibly complex and due to the hard work by everyone, we have been able to see a fantastic result at court.
"We hope this sends a strong message to criminals – we have specialist teams with excellent resources at their disposal that remain dedicated to carrying out lengthy and complex investigations to target and pursue suspects, no matter where you travel or reside – there is nowhere to hide."
Det Insp Drenon added: "Organised drug supply, in whatever form, leads to a range of other issues such as violence and exploitation and we know profits from drugs are often then invested in wider organised crime such as continued Class A drug supply, firearms, modern slavery and child sexual exploitation.
"Under the wider banner of Operation Sentinel we will continue to pursue offenders and disrupt criminals who seek to make a profit from supplying drugs and harming our North East communities."