Latest news with #OperationTarget
BBC News
15-05-2025
- BBC News
Six men jailed for Coventry drugs operation
Six men have been jailed for between three and 16 years for their roles in a national drug-dealing said Jonathan Mann, 31, Luke Purcell, 30, his brother Alexander Purcell, 32, Ryan Prescott, 29, and Ian Lewis, 28 - all from Coventry - as well as Thomas Johnson, 35, from Atherstone, north Warwickshire, moved large amounts of cocaine and other drugs around the country in were investigated as part of Operation Target, a West Midlands Police campaign against organised of the men were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday. One had already been sentenced. Police said Mann, the group's ringleader, oversaw distribution, while Prescott and the Purcells acted as estimated they were involved in moving more than 100kg of Class A drugs laundered the money earned from the sale of the drugs, while Johnson was identified as a customer who bought 5kg of cocaine for his own drug supply operation. Police said that between April and November 2022, the men made 163 journeys up and down the country, staying in places including Crewe and Bristol before returning to Coventry with drugs and were arrested that saw messages between the men discussing the transport of drugs and money.A search of Purcell's home also uncovered a blank-firing handgun which had been converted to fire live the operation, officers seized 21kg of cocaine, 4.9kg of ketamine, 17g of MDMA and more than £450,000 in cash. Prescott and Mann pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to launder money and were jailed for eight years, and 13 years and four months the same offences, as well as having an offensive weapon, Alexander Purcell was sentenced to nine years and seven Purcell was jailed for 13 years and two months for conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs, conspiracy to launder money, production of cannabis and possession of of a firearm and who denied the charges against him, was convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs and conspiracy to launder money, and was jailed for 16 had already been sentenced to three years in January, after pleading guilty to money laundering. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
ITV News
14-05-2025
- ITV News
17-year-old boy arrested after gun found at a property in Coventry
A 17-year-old boy has been arrested after a gun was found at a property in Coventry. Officers were called to the address in the Potter's Green area on Tuesday morning shortly after 9am. They found a gun, ammunition, and arrested the 17-year-old boy on suspicion of possessing a firearm. He has since been bailed with strict conditions as police carry out further enquiries. West Midlands Police say they're running 'Operation Target', which sees them take a stand against a range of serious and organised crime use local intelligence, seize goods, carry out warrants and target offenders as part of Op Target's ongoing crackdown.
Wales Online
07-05-2025
- Wales Online
Drug dealer who had 'brown' in underwear jailed
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Get the latest Wales Online breaking news on WhatsApp A 21-year-old drug dealer who hid Class A drugs in his underwear has been locked up. James Tranter was found with a bag of heroin - nicknamed 'brown' on the streets - stashed in his pants following a stop-and-search in Hednesford. Staffordshire Police officers also discovered two mobile phones and £260 in cash during the incident at around 1.30pm on April 16 last year. READ MORE: Schoolboy injured as owners flee dog attack at Midland park Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp , click the link to join However he was released under investigation. But less than three months later, on July 9, Tranter was again searched by officers after he was seen acting suspiciously on grassland between Muldoon Close and Cleveland Drive in Cannock. Officers discovered a large amount of crack cocaine in a bush nearby and Tranter was arrested. When officers later searched his home address they found cash, mobile phones and cannabis. He later admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis. On Wednesday, April 30 this year, Tranter was sentenced to three-years-and-two-months in prison at Stafford Crown Court. A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "Through Operation Target, we are committed to proactively and relentlessly targeting groups and individuals responsible for high-harm crimes, including county lines drug distribution, illegal firearms activity, modern slavery, and cyber-crime in our county. "Anyone who has any information that may help us in our ongoing fight against major and organised crime can contact us on 101, or through the Live Chat facility on our website. "To report anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Yahoo
Drug dealer's 'sneaky' hiding place for handgun after flat raid near Birmingham city centre
A 'sneaky' drug dealer who kept cocaine and a handgun stashed in a jewellery box has been jailed, police say. Lorenc Lika, aged 41, was arrested after West Midlands Police officers raided a flat located on Bell Barn Road, in the Westside area of Birmingham, near the city centre. Officers, including those from the force's Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU), targeted the address with a warrant on February 25 after acting on information. READ MORE: M6 lorries slashed open at Midland service station Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join Inside, they unearthed a drug factory with a range of equipment used for the illegal production process. Cocaine was also found, including some concealed behind a panel, alongside a handgun and ammunition. West Midlands Police said that officers had found Class A drugs and a handgun hidden inside a jewellery box. Lika, also of Bell Barn Road, was arrested at the address. He later admitted possession of a firearm, ammunition and having Class A drugs with intent to supply. He was jailed for eight years and nine months at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday (April 24). A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: "A dealer has been jailed after we seized Class A drugs and a handgun which was hidden inside a jewellery box. "Officers from West Midlands Police and Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) acted on information and carried out a raid near Birmingham city centre. "We unearthed a drugs factory, with a range of equipment used for the illegal production process, inside the flat in Bell Barn Road. "We also found cocaine, which included some concealed behind a panel, along with the gun and ammunition. "Lorenc Lika was arrested from the address as we executed the warrant on 25 February this year. "The 41-year-old, of Bell Barn Road, admitted possession of a firearm, ammunition and having Class A drugs with intent to supply. "He was jailed for eight years and nine months at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday (24 April). "We're continually working to take guns and drugs off the streets, and tackle organised crime, as part of Operation Target."
