A drugs gang who used a van with a secret trap door and encrypted phones to ship high purity cocaine and amphetamine onto the streets of Tyneside have been jailed for a total of 47 years
Head of the organised crime group, John Allock, was locked up for 21 years and five members of his North East-based gang got sentences ranging from a year to 13 years. As they were locked up at Newcastle Crown Court, a judge said they had wasted tens of thousands of pounds having a trial that took 22 weeks despite overwhelming evidence against them.
Judge Tim Gittins told them: "You six fall to be sentenced for your part in a sophisticated enterprise that preyed upon people's addictions. Addictions that
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"This was serious, organised crime. It was a trade involving drugs worth tens of thousands of pounds each time, running into hundreds of thousands of pounds, if not millions."
The judge said the conspiracy involved "industrial quantities" of drugs being supplied on a commercial basis. He added: "What's more, such was your arrogance and greed, despite setbacks of drugs being intercepted twice, you continued your unlawful trade."
During the complex investigation by officers from the North East Regional Special Operations Unit, Allcock and trusted lieutenant, Carl McAlindon, were monitored as they ran their illicit business, buying and sourcing drugs from members of an organised crime group in the North West.
Allcock would regularly travel to Liverpool and Manchester to meet with associates and was observed visiting an industrial unit which the group had access to, and which is suspected to have been used to store large quantities of amphetamine, which he later bought and employed couriers to distribute.
They attempted to evade detection by conducting shady face-to-face business meetings, as well as via encrypted devices and also used a number of tactics to frustrate police activity.
After a lengthy period of surveillance on the group, officers made their first move and arrested Liverpool-based courier Paul Marrow on September 15, 2017 on the A1 in Durham.
With the assistance of a drugs dog, a hidden electronically operated compartment complete with a trap door was found inside his white van and contained a block of high purity cocaine worth around £180,000.
Then in November, police recovered almost £50,000 in cash after a targeted vehicle stop in Lincolnshire. A search of the van revealed the cash secreted beneath a fixed heavy-duty boot-liner under a pile of tools.
The dismantling of the group continued into 2018 when officers arrested two more couriers, Baber Azim and Glen Stoddart.
Azim was intercepted as he travelled through the Cleveland area in possession of cash and a kilo of cocaine, and Stoddart was caught in Swansea having travelled there with £250,000 worth of cannabis, and later collecting £21,250 in cash.
Allcock, who was living in Spain, was later arrested with the help of the National Crime Agency in a final swoop by officers determined to bring the conspiracy to an end.
As part of their investigation, officers seized more than £120,000 cash, 65 kilos of cannabis and mixing agents, as well as class A drugs.
John Allcock, 52, of Hillmeadows, Willington, County Durham was found guilty of conspiracy to Supply Class A and B drugs and money laundering. He was jailed for 21 years.
Carl McAlindon, 36, of Abbey Drive, Jarrow was found guilty of conspiracy to Supply Class A and B Drugs and money laundering. He was jailed for 13 years.
Bernard Sewell, 41, of Roman Road, Hebburn was found guilty of conspiracy to Supply Class B drugs but found not guilty of conspiracy to supply class A Drugs. He was jailed for four-and-a-half years.
Mark Hiscock, 46, of Cheviot Road, South Shields was found guilty of money laundering but found not guilty of Conspiracy to supply Class B drugs. He was jailed for 12 months.
Glen Stoddart, 53, of Mariner's Point, Hartlepool was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, money laundering and participating in activities of an organised crime group. He was jailed for five-and-a-half years.
David McFarlane, 53 of Hadrian Road, Jarrow was found guilty of money laundering but found not guilty of Conspiracy to Supply Class B drugs. He was jailed for 12 months.
Paul Marrow, 62, of Rainford Road, Dentons Green, Merseyside, admitted Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs Baber Azim, 43, of Kendridge Road, Slough admitted Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and money laundering. Marrow and Azim will be sentenced separately.
Detective Inspector Steve Pescod from NERSOU said: “I hope this case send a strong message to anyone who thinks they can turn a profit from supplying illegal, harmful substances in our towns and cities.
“Allcock ran a sophisticated and significant operation worth millions of pounds, which, thanks to the hard work and dedication of officers has now been shut down, and the proceeds seized.
“Thanks to this investigation, members of two organised crime groups, ranging from couriers to those leading the businesses were brought before the courts and held accountable for their shameless and despicable offending. I am pleased the jury have found them guilty and they have been given substantial jail terms, as these convictions undoubtedly make our region a better place.
“These men were brazen offenders who were working together to maximise profits, without a care for the vulnerable people caught up in their activity. Not only did they hide what they were doing through the use of encrypted phones and swapping sim cards, but also denied their roles before a court and refused to accept blame and take responsibility."
