Wirral man part of North Wales drugs gang jailed for almost 110 years

Officers from North Wales Police Serious and Organised Crime Unit undertook a covert investigation codenamed ‘Blue Cobalt’ into a conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs into the force area between December 1 2019 and April 27 2021.

This followed the National Crime Agency’s Operation Venetic, which relates to Encrypted mobile phones.

Commonly referred to as ‘Encrochat’, criminals use encrypted mobile devices to adopt and hide behind code names or ‘handles’.

Messages recovered from an encrypted messaging service revealed the sheer volume of drugs that were being sourced and sold by separate and distinct criminal groups, as they effectively combined to become a formidable force operating as a drugs consortium bringing Class A and Class B drugs onto the streets of North Wales.

The investigation centred on Daniel Crossley, a resident of the Rhuddlan area, who sourced Cocaine and Cannabis, and facilitated supply to the Tommy Davies Organised Crime Group (OCG) in Flintshire.

The Encrochat messages provided evidence showing that Nelson assisted by his courier Wood were supplying high purity cocaine to Crossley and another Organised Crime Group from North Wales based in the Holywell area and headed by Thomas James Davies.

Despite serving time in prison, Davies stayed in regular contact with members of his OCG.

Davies used both legitimate phones and devices which had been smuggled into prison.

He had trusted members of his OCG who managed the day to day running of the criminal network, including his mother Dawn Davies, brother Liam and Sophie Roberts.

Arrangements would be made so that either the drugs would be collected in Merseyside, where a North Wales courier would travel and meet in specific locations, or the Merseyside Courier (Robert Wood and on occasion Darren Nelson) travelled to north Wales and met for an exchange of cash and or drugs to take place.

Dawn and Sophie would receive almost daily instructions from Thomas Davies in relation to the collection of drug debts, management of finances and drug deliveries into Holywell.

Dawn Davies was assisted by Michael Munnelly, who acted as a debt collector on behalf of the OCG, and a network of individuals who would either sub deal or street deal in the Holywell area.

Darren Nelson, 32 of Whitfield Road Liverpool pleaded guilty to eight counts of conspiracy to supply Class A and B Drugs as well as Conspiracy to launder money. He was jailed for 15 years and 9 months.

On 1st March 2021 Nelson travelled to North Wales (during Covid lockdown) under the guise of being a legitimate delivery driver. He and Crossley were observed meeting by Police Officers on a road off the A55 near to the Kinmel Manor Hotel at Abergele. A cash and drugs exchange took place. Nelson was then observed driving to Greenfield on his journey back to Merseyside. He attends the home address of Thomas Davies.

Robert Wood, 58 of Stamfordham Drive Liverpool pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to supply, Conspiracy to launder money and Possession with intent to supply MDMA. He was sentenced to 9 years 11 months.

Thomas Davies 26, of Glan Y Don, Greenfield was jailed for 11 years 8 months for Conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs.

Daniel Jerome Crossley, 36 of Frances Avenue Rhyl pleaded to Conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs and received 10 years.

Dawn Davies 47, of Nant Y Coed Holywell was jailed for 9 years 6 months for conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs.

Sophie Louise Roberts 26, of The Close, Greenfield was sentenced to 10 years 4 months for Conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs.

Michael Munnelly, 39 of Pant y Wacco, Lloc was jailed for 8 years 3 months for Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Thomas Aaron Wilson, 31 from Cilgant Yr Hen Ysgol, Greenfield received an 8 years 3 months sentence for Conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs.

Dayle Owens, 31 of River view, New Brighton Rd, Bagillt was jailed for 8 years for Conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs

Charlie McEvily 24, from Ffordd Pennant, Mostyn received 2 years 9 months for being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs and a further 6 months for a breach of a precious offence.

On 16th March 2021 Nelson is stopped by Police Officers exiting North Wales and a search of the vehicle establishes a compatrment under the floor of the front passenger side seat containing bundles of cash totalling over £38,000.00.

Matthew David Forrester 27, of Rhodfa Wenlo, Greenfield received 3 years 2 months for being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs

Peter Beecham, 38 from St Brides Rd, Egremont, Wirral admitted Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was jailed for 5 years 3 months.

Beecham, appeared to be sentenced for his "one-off" involvement in the operation.

Robin Boag, defending Beecham, emphasised that his client had acted as a courier on one date only, which led to his charge of conspiring to supply cocaine in April 2020.

Beecham had put the matter behind him but police came looking for him a year later - at which point he handed himself in.

Mr Boag said he'd "foolishly" allowed himself to become involved in transporting and exchanging money for drugs.

Judge Petts handed down a sentence of five years and three months

Liam Davies 22, Pen y Maes, Holywell was sentenced to 6 years 9 months for Conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs.

Another defendant will be sentenced at a later date.

Speaking after sentencing, DS Tony Underhill of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit said: "Today’s sentences are the result of a painstaking covert operation by a team of dedicated and hardworking officers, following information received from the National Crime Agency.

"The scale and sophistication of the operation run by these Organised Crime Gangs cannot be under emphasized, and the disruption of their business across our force region was a major victory in the war against drugs.

"We are, as ever indebted to the close working partnership we enjoy with our colleagues from Merseyside Police, and criminals should be under no illusion that we will continue to work across borders to bring them to justice.

"We are committed to making north Wales the safest place in the UK, and today’s sentences go some way towards that goal."