A gang which imported millions of pounds worth of illegal drugs into the north-east of England was jailed.[1] The operation involved drug mules carrying Class A and B drugs from Thailand to County Durham, according to the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit.[1] Jordan Stoker, 30, from Coundon received the largest sentence, a 19-year term from Teesside Crown Court.[1] Stoker admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to fraudulently evade a ban on importing controlled drugs.[2] The Sowerby brothers Christopher, Ian and Shaun operated a safe house where cocaine and cannabis were stored for onward distribution.[1] Christopher Sowerby and Shaun Sowerby were each jailed for 13 years and one month, and Ian Sowerby for ten years and ten months.[2]
Matthew Goodwin and Trelawny Brown acted as drug mules travelling to Thailand, while Brian Stoker and Paul Lamb moved couriers to and from airports.[1] Goodwin was jailed for three years and nine months and Brown for three years and four months.[2] Brian Stoker was jailed for five years and two months and Paul Lamb for seven years and two months for the importation conspiracy.[2] Stoker’s mother Sarah Leighton and half-brother Ethan Smith counted and stored cash made from the group’s criminality.[1] Leighton and Smith admitted money laundering and received suspended terms of 22 months and 18 months respectively.[1]
The unit worked with UK Border Force under the codename Operation Box to identify the gang.[1] Officers seized about £280,000 in cash, 1.3 tonnes of cannabis and more than 30 kg of cocaine, with an estimated combined street value of almost £13 million.[1] All ten defendants admitted offences including conspiracy to fraudulently evade a prohibition on the importation of controlled drugs.[1]
