Multiple gang members that made up a large portion of the County Lines drugs trade have been jailed for more than 141 years.
The gangs, thought to have made up to £1,116,000 across eight months of dealing across Merseyside, Manchester and Cheshire, were busted in a major undercover police operation. The drug dealers were found to have used parks, playgrounds and busy streets to peddle heroin and crack cocaine.
Gangs, including the Onion Team, based in Huyton, even carved its name into a trees, in an attempt to mark their territory, Cheshire Live reports. Named after its leader, Huyton man Steve Unwin, one of the gang’s hotspots was Sankey Valley Park.
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It was there they came to the attention of police - who found Unwin had essentially carved his name and address into a tree. Referring to the Longview estate he grew up on, the carving read: “Onion of Longy, Huyton.” Unwin, 27 and of Hale View Road was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison for drugs offences.
But Unwin wasn't the only one jailed, with the eight-month operation, codenamed Operation Spartans, identifying those at the top of the drug-chain and successfully led to dealers for six gangs being sentenced this month. Four more gangs will be sentenced in April 2022.
As it stands, 31 men and one woman have been jailed for a total of 141 years and 8 months, with others to be sentenced. Here we've listed the gangs involved in the County Lines operations and those who have been jailed so far:
The Onion Team
This gang frequented Sankey Valley Park, claiming their territory by branding a tree branch with their name. Leader Steve Unwin from Huyton, had carved: ‘Onion of Longy, Huyton,’ - referring to the Longview estate where he grew up. This was another move that busted the gang as he essentially tipped off the police about his identity.
27-year-old Unwin, of Hale View Road in Huyton, was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison for drug offences. Other members pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin and were jailed for a total of 27 years.
The Jonno Team
19-year-old Tre Freeman, from St Helens, was spotted dealing from a stolen BMW X3. The key figure of the Jonno Team was arrested after a dramatic police chase through Newton-le-Willows.
Freeman was returning to Warrington to pick up more heroin to sell. The Merseyside-based gang were also caught selling drugs to an undercover operative during the force’s Operation Spartans.
Freeman was also part of the JJ team, and jailed for a total of six years. Connor Houghton, 20, of The Crescent in Lymm, was jailed for five years and eight months. Ellis Rigby, 19, was jailed for two years and four months.
Long Haired Luke Team
Based in Salford, Manchester, this group was the largest of the 11 organised crime groups in the Cheshire town. It was led by Craig Williams, 20, who worked with Desi Challinor, Keelan Emery and Mason Clemonds. Now, the group has been sentenced to a total of 59 years and ten months behind bars.
They had taken over a huge percentage of the drug market in Warrington. Within weeks of basing themselves in a person’s home, they became well-known and used multiple addresses around the town as their bases.
They sent mass texts to customers boasting the “everyday fattest and best stuff in Warrington” available “247 all day and all night”.
Members of the gang were busted by their own stupidity, after three members were filmed walking around a Warrington park with an axe. Antony Cragg, Mark Ingle and Alex Brady videoed themselves bragging about the weapon stuffed down the trousers of one of the offenders and making gun gestures.
Craig Williams was jailed for six years and 10 months for conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin. Desi Challinor, 20, was jailed for four years and eight months. Keelan Emery, 22, was jailed for six years and eight months. Mason Clemonds, 19, was jailed for seven years.
Antony Cragg, 32, of Longshaw Street, was sentenced to three years and seven months. Mark Ingle, 45, was sentenced to two years and eight months. Alex Brady, 21, was sentenced to four years and eight months.
Dept Supt Draco added: “Those sitting at the top of the conspiracies were exploiting vulnerable people and local users from Warrington. They used street dealers to carry out their orders while they kept themselves under the radar by basing themselves in other cities.
“Unbeknown to them they were also under observation by our officers who worked incredibly hard for a long period of time to build evidence and eradicate these gangs who destroy the community purely for an illegal profit. The evidence gathered for the entire case was built so strongly that all the defendants entered a guilty plea.”
Paul Team
At their peak, Paul Team had been one of the busiest drug dealers in Warrington. Second only to the Long Haired Luke Team.
Led by Stephen Brett, 25, they ferried drugs from Liverpool and distributed it throughout Warrington. Brett’s ‘right hand man’ was Kyle Thomas, 25, who was based in Warrington.
This gang will be sentenced in April, with all members having entered a guilty plea.
