A drugs enforcement operation – codenamed Operation Clubman – ended on Friday (26 May) after the last two defendants in the case were sentenced for their part in the supply and distribution of class B drugs.
Officers from East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), supported by teams from across Leicestershire Police, executed more than 50 warrants in the summer of 2019.
The enforcement activity took place across Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Liverpool.
Since the enforcement stages the EMSOU team behind the operation have been working tirelessly to bring those charged to justice.
Since the first court case 39 defendants have been sentenced to more than 165 years in prison between them.
Detective Inspector Lee Hunt was the operation’s Senior Investigating Officer, formerly based in the East Midlands Special Operations Unit. He said: “Drugs destroy lives and communities and through this operation we have taken down a large organised crime group who didn’t care about the impact of selling drugs.
“The legal proceedings have seen substantial prison sentences being handed out and on Friday another two were sentenced for the part they played in a much bigger operation and it is only through the tenacity of detectives from EMSOU.”
A husband and wife, were sentenced after pleading guilty in May 2021. The husband, 35, pleaded to conspiracy to supply cocaine and his wife, 34, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.
The man was sentenced to four years and six months in prison and the woman, both of Skippers Close, Blaby, was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years.
Evidence obtained during the operation showed the man collecting class A drugs. He was stopped after having collected 249.92g (1/4 of a kilogram) of cocaine (class A drugs).
After a search of the defendants’ home more than 137g of cocaine was recovered, some envelopes containing the drugs were found inside cupboard drawers belonging to his wife.
Following the analysis of her telephone records, it was apparent that there were a series of messages between her and her husband that indicted an involvement with the supply of drugs to customers. She would measure out and go on to meet customers when her husband was unable to.
Detective Inspector Lee Hunt added: “These outcomes are a testament to the hard work of those officers and staff who have been involved in this large scale and complex investigation.
“Those convicted ran a business-like operation and they all had a key role to play in the supply of controlled drugs onto the streets.
“This was a significant operation for us but our work doesn’t end here. We know the supply of controlled drugs is a never-ending battle and there is always someone waiting to fill the gap left by others.
“Our efforts to stop the misuse of drugs will continue and we will carry out further operations of this nature to disrupt the criminal activity.”
EMSOU is a collaboration between the five forces of the East Midlands set up to tackle the most violent, serious and organised criminals in the region.
Follow EMSOU @EMSpecialOps
Read more here.
To read about those previously convicted…