Two Wirral brothers jailed for heading up a UK-wide drugs conspiracy

Joseph Mulhare, 44, spearheaded the conspiracy, which involved the manufacture and supply of Class A and Class B drugs including Amphetamine and MDMA tablets on a substantial and extensive commercial scale, assisted by his brother Gregory Mulhare, 40.

Officers from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) undertook an 18 month investigation, beginning in June 2016, into the conspiracy which culminated in series of warrants being executed across Wirral – including Rock Ferry, Oxton, Prenton, Birkenhead and Bebington - as well as Bristol and Milton Keynes in September 2017.

Joseph and Gregory Mulhare after being arrested in Thailand. (Picture: Royal Thai Police)

During the conspiracy officers seized cocaine to the value of £66,480, amphetamine to the value of £336,080; MDMA and ecstasy to the value of £208,040 and a total of £80,135 in cash in England; 21 kilograms of cannabis bush to the value of between £210,210-£420,420; and a stun gun.

In December 2018, 21 men were sentenced to a total of 189 years behind bars for their involvement in the plot.

Joseph and Gregory Mulhare were detained by police in Thailand in November 2018 and returned to England earlier this year.

Joseph Mulhare, formerly of Ringwood, Oxton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs and was today (Friday, December 13) jailed for 15 years and four months.

MDMA factory in Clifton Road

Gregory Mulhare, formerly of Kipling Avenue, Rock Ferry, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs and was jailed for 12 years and eight months.

Detective chief inspector Ian Hussey from NWROCU said: “This has been a long and challenging investigation which has finally culminated in the two main ringleaders in a UK-wide drugs conspiracy finally being brought to justice.

“Joseph and Gregory Mulhare were both responsible for masterminding the manufacture and distribution of both Class A and Class B drugs from their base in the Wirral.

“Neither of these men were hands-on in the production of the drugs but they were responsible for orchestrating and organising the nationwide distribution, thus bringing misery to potentially thousands of people across the whole of the UK.

"They were also the ones who benefitted the most financially from their illicit business dealings.

Some of the cash seized

“I am happy to see that these two men will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars and that we have been able to stop a significant operation which was flooding the streets of the UK with Class A drugs.

“I would like to thank the NWROCU police officers who worked so hard on this operation and our colleagues in Merseyside Police, Police Scotland and the Crown Prosecution Service for assisting and supporting us during this wide-ranging and ongoing investigation.

Ecstasy tablets found in Clifton Road

"Our message to those involved in drug supply is that you cannot escape justice and there are no borders, we will work with other forces to relentlessly pursue those profiting from serious organised crime.

"No-one should have to put up with drug dealing and the associated violence and gun crime it often brings.

"We will continue to work with our communities to improve the quality of life for decent, law-abiding people and I would urge people to keep helping us do that by reporting any drug dealing or gun crime to the police or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."