Two members of an organised crime gang that connected London and Devon have been jailed. Stephen Wills and Leum Barrett helped traffic tens of thousands of pounds-worth of cocaine into the South West.
Exeter Crown Court heard that between July and November 2019, Wills and Barrett were involved in an organised crime gang’s operation to deliver high-purity drugs from London to dealers in the Exeter area.
Other members of the gang, Adi Lleshi, Mark Vasija and Richard Armitage, are already behind bars, having been convicted at previous trials for their roles in supplying cocaine to towns across the South West.
Lleshi delivered cocaine to the Exeter-based conspirators. On one of these occasions, he drove to a property in Chagford. Whilst he was in there, Barrett was seen outside the address and appeared to be waiting for someone.
Shortly after, Wills made phone calls to Barrett and Armitage who arrived at the property and entered before Lleshi left with a bag, having received payment for the drugs. All parties left the address at the same time. Lleshi went on to deliver cocaine elsewhere in the South West. Barrett and Wills were in significant telephone contact with each other that evening.
Subsequent enquiries found that this property was rented to Armitage who paid the bills. The gang thought it was a safe house and was unaware that it was under surveillance by law enforcement agencies, led by Devon & Cornwall Police.
During the course of the investigation, searches were carried out at all the suspects’ addresses, and more than a quarter of a kilogram of cocaine was found at the home addresses of Wills and Barrett. These seizures had a total street value of £40,000 and the evidence suggested the Exeter-based dealers still had the ability to buy and sell large amounts of cocaine.
The group also used mobile phones which had the highest level of encryption. Following interviews of all the suspects, a full file was submitted to the Complex Case Unit of the Crown Prosecution Service and charges were made.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Ben Davies said: “This was a substantial and complex investigation in which large quantities of Class-A drugs destined for the streets of Plymouth, Bristol, Torquay and Penzance were seized.
“The large quantities of criminal money also recovered demonstrated the extent of the drugs empire and its foothold in the South West of England.”
Wills and Barrett were both found guilty of conspiring to supply cocaine and possession with intent to supply cocaine at a trial which concluded on Friday 6 December. John Brewster, 35, of Dixon Way, Calne, was found not guilty of conspiring to supply a Class A drug at the same trial.
Wills and Barrett were jailed for a combined total of 14 years by Judge Stephen Climie at a hearing at Exeter Crown Court today (Thursday 13 March).
Wills, aged 36, of Bridford, Exeter, was sentenced to nine years in jail for a catalogue of offences including conspiring to supply cocaine and possession with intent to supply cocaine. He was also sentenced on three separate charges to which he had previously pleaded guilty. He was convicted of conspiring to supply a class A drug, conspiring to supply a class B drug and for possession of a prohibited firearm.
Barrett, 35, of Newton Poppleford, was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy to supply a class A drug and three-and-a-half years for possession with intent to supply cocaine to be served concurrently.
The convictions are the result of a large-scale investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Branch, aided by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit.
DSupt Davies added: “Sentences handed out today send a clear message to those who feel that they can transport drugs into our communities, set up and sell them.
“The judge was very clear that this group of criminals were sophisticated, organised and operating across the region. I commend the professionalism and dedication of our Serious and Organised Crime Investigation Team supported by the Regional Organised Crime Unit for the lengths they have gone to ensuring that the organised crime group were identified, arrested and convicted.
“This complex investigation took place during the national pandemic which brought challenging conditions to both the teams and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Working together ensures that those who commit serious organised crime will be dealt with robustly by the police and CPS.
“I thank the CPS and those that work within it for their continued support in making the communities of Devon and Cornwall safer for all. Devon and Cornwall Police will continue to pursue these organised crime groups in order to protect the communities they target.
“I would urge any residents to have the confidence to call the police or Crimestoppers to report drug-dealing activity so that we can be made aware and look to stop it as soon as possible.”
Ann Hampshire, Specialist Prosecutor in the CPS South West Complex Casework Unit, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service worked closely with the investigative team from Devon and Cornwall Police to build the strongest possible case against this organised crime group.
“This was a complex, large-scale investigation, and it took many months to review and consider the vast amounts of evidential material and build a picture of the criminal network. Through this work we were able to demonstrate the individual role of each defendant and the part they played in the county lines distribution of drugs from London into the South West.
“The CPS will continue to work closely with our colleagues in the police to ensure that those involved in bringing drugs into the South West are brought to justice.”
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