Gang who flooded streets of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre with Class A drugs jailed for more than 130 years
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Officers from the West Targeted Crime Unit took down a major supply operation between October 2020 and June 2021.
It targeted dealers bringing in large quantities of Class A drugs into the Blackpool area which were then distributed at street level.
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Hide AdOne arm of the Operation Warrior investigation resulted in a Wyre-based gang – Michael Welsh, Gary Johnson, Kristoffer Pilkington and Christopher Dixon – being arrested and convicted for distributing cocaine.
Another part of the operation focused on a cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin supply ring which was controlled by Daniel Myerscough.
Myerscough was responsible for arranging and purchasing bulk quantities of drugs, with him assisted by several people.
One of those who helped him was James Black, who at the time was serving a prison sentence for drug trafficking offences.
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Hide AdDuring his time in prison, Black had access to four different phone numbers and evidence showed him to be in contact with drug deal lines.
Drugs were sold via contact with deal phone lines, which would advertise drugs for sale.
That line was operated by a number of the offenders, with Myerscough having regular contact with individuals controlling deal lines or those who owed him money from having use of a deal line.
Det Insp Kathryn Riley of Lancashire Police, said: “This was a complex investigation which targeted the activity of offenders bringing large quantities of Class A drugs into the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde areas.
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Hide Ad“We targeted people operating at different levels within organised crime groups.
“The operation led to a large number of people being convicted and the length of the custodial sentences handed out by the courts confirms how seriously the supply of drugs is taken.
“Drugs can do serious harm to communities and this operation sends out the message that we won’t tolerate drug dealing.”
Andrew Snowden, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire said: “It’s important that we send a clear message to criminals that police are coming to get you, and this is another great example of the work officers do, every single day, to disrupt and dismantle organised crime gangs and put them behind bars.
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Hide Ad“It’s what Op Warrior is all about, taking the fight to criminals that blight our communities, delivering on my Fighting Crime Plan and seeing even more arrests, more asset seizures and more drugs off our streets.
"Results like this, which will directly make Lancashire safer, is what the public want to see and delivers on a top priority in my Fighting Crime Plan.
“I would encourage anyone to report suspicious activity, or any information that might help in bringing criminals to justice.
“We continue to go after more and make sure those involved in organised crime feel the full force of the law and have their day in court.”
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Hide AdThe defendants were sentenced at hearings at Preston Crown Court.
If you are concerned about drug dealing in your community you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.