Gang supplied Teesside drugs from Ibiza beach

Members of a network behind a cross-country drugs operation which aimed to flood Teesside with heroin and cocaine have been jailed for a total of more than 73 years.

Members of a network behind a cross-country drugs operation which aimed to flood Teesside with heroin and cocaine have been jailed for a total of more than 73 years.

Criminal gangs around Teesside, Newcastle and Liverpool – all headed by convicted dealers – worked together to supply drugs.

And there was anger in court as Teesside kingpin Carl Hannan launched into a foul-mouthed outburst in response to his 15-and-a-half year jail term, shouting “it’s a f****** joke”.

Police seized 3.5kg of heroin, 135g of cocaine, 3kg of cutting agents and “dealer lists” detailing amounts totalling £2m as part of the operation to catch the traffickers.

Conspirators used cheap, throwaway “dirty phones” or “graft phones” in the drugs business, changing them regularly to frustrate police.

A total of 12 men have either been convicted or admitted their role in plot.

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Eight of the gang were sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday.

  • Carl Hannan, 34, from Normanby, was the leader of the Teesside operation. He was jailed for 15-and-a-half years;
  • Simon Robinson, 34, from Linthorpe, Middlesbrough played a leading role alongside Hannan. He was jailed for 12-and-a-half years;
  • Mark Robinson, 37, of Ayresome, Middlesbrough, operated as a courier and was caught with heroin in a Ford Mondeo. He was jailed for six years
  • David Butler, 47, of Newton, Stockton, drove a fellow gang member to Liverpool and allowed his Motability car to be used for trips to Merseyside. He was jailed for six-and-a-half years
  • Robert Hutchinson, 32, from Eston, worked as a driver delivering drugs for Carl Hannan. He was jailed for six-and-a-half years
  • Kristofer Millward, 39, of Holme House Prison, Stockton, travelled to Liverpool several times before being caught with heroin in a Ford Focus in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough. He was jailed for seven years and one month
  • Colin McNally, 46, from Newburn, Newcastle, headed the Tyneside end of the operation. He was jailed for 13-and-a-half years
  • Andrew Rae, 49, of Dunston, Gateshead, was McNally’s “trusted lieutenant” who delivered drugs and cash. He was jailed for five-and-a-half years
  • James Williams, 43, from Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, known as “Dodge” or “Dodger”, took part in the cocaine trafficking arm of the operation. He failed to appear at the sentencing and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Three more men, including Gordon Mackenzie, 33, from Teesville, and Eric Challinor-Rankin, 29, and Paul Smith, 33, both from Liverpool and were part of the Merseyside operation are yet to be sentenced.

The drugs conspiracy dated back as far as January 2016.

The hearing was told how Hannan sourced large quantities of heroin and cocaine from Liverpool, helped by others who delivered and stored drugs.

He organised one drugs exchange in Eston while on his stag do in Ibiza with other gang members.

Mackenzie looked after Hannan’s “graft phones”, it was said.

Mark Robinson was said to be a courier and was stopped in a hired Ford Mondeo with 1kg of heroin and 120g of cocaine.

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His brother, builder Simon Robinson was said to have sourced heroin from Liverpool.

Hutchinson also delivered drugs for Hannan. The jury at his trial told he sent messages on WhatsApp saying: “They’ve been caught…with lots of stuff.”

Police officers found a “dealer list” detailing amounts totalling more than £2m, on October 13, 2016.

Some of the men gave various innocent or alternative explanations for their travels and contacts, including the sale of protein bars and meat.

Hannan’s barrister Paul Abrahams said he was a leading player “but not the dictator”.

In mitigation, defence lawyers for the other men claimed that several of those involved had not played a significant role or were a “cog in the machine”.

Judge Howard Crowson said the case involved a well-organised drugs route from the Liverpool to Teesside gangs, with some of the product moving to Newcastle.

He said a dedicated and experienced team of investigators brought the trade to a halt, intercepting 3.5kg of heroin.

He said: “I accept the police did not intercept all the drugs trafficked.

“It’s clear that other drugs travelled across the Pennines.”

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