An on-the-run drugs gang boss nicknamed his money-loving right-hand man "Johnny Cash".
Terence McFee led a Liverpool-based ring which supplied millions of pounds of heroin, cocaine and amphetamine across the country. The organised crime group was also behind the one of the biggest discoveries of heroin in Merseyside Police's history.
Members were able to lead a lavish lifestyle from their ill-gotten gains. McFee - who fled the country earlier this year and remains at large - and John McTigue, the man given the Johnny Cash moniker, planned a holiday to Mexico together while the kingpin and another conspirator, Leroy Kassim, enjoyed a trip to Portugal.
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Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Friday, that his outfit was involved in the supply of more than 100kg of class A drugs and 30kg of class B - in particular trafficking illicit substances to the south west of England. The "head of the OCG" used the handle BrowSky on encrypted communications platform EncroChat while "hands on" McTigue - of Wellington Road, in Wavertree - was identified as the user MaroonRose.
The latter couriered drugs around the UK, was tasked with purchasing a vehicle with a hide to stash contraband in and brokered deals as well as collecting large sums of cash. McFee gave his 41-year-old "close and trusted associate" the Johnny Cash nickname "because of his love of money" and booked for them to go on holiday together in a luxury resort in Mexico for his birthday.
Kassim, of no fixed address, was referenced in their secret chats - "indicating he was a trusted and close associate of both". The 50-year-old visited Lisbon with McFee and "enjoyed a lavish lifestyle" after allowing his home to be used to store heroin and adulterants.
Meanwhile, 37-year-old Terence Shields - of Brittania Crescent, in Dingle - was described as a "courier and close associate" of the gang's boss. Daniel Travers, prosecuting, told the court that McFee's discussions on EncroChat referenced debts in the tens of thousands of pounds that needed collecting from Plymouth.
McTigue spoke with him about the difficulties in finding a trustworthy courier to work for them during lockdown. He personally travelled to Torquay and Exeter in May 2020, and in October 2020 made five trips to the Plymouth area in grey Ford C-Max.
Then, between January and March 2021, Shields embarked upon six visits to Devon and Cornwall - four by train, and two in the same car. On these occasions, he met with a contact called "Dennis" in Plymouth.
The final of these six missions on March 16 saw him arrested following a chase with police. Officers saw the vehicle pull off the M5 and into a car park and attempted to box him.
Shields collided with the unmarked car as he made his escape, crashing into another motorist as he headed back onto the motorway. The high-speed pursuit saw him undertake three lanes of traffic on the hard shoulder at 80mph.
The father-of-four was eventually stopped by a stinger and attempted to flee down an embankment but was swiftly arrested. A secret compartment in the vehicle was found to contain half a kilogram of cocaine and 22kg of amphetamine with an estimated street value of £260,000.
On January 18 this year, McFee and McTigue were observed visiting Kassim's then home in South Hill Road, Dingle. This address was raided by police on February 1, with 5.2g heroin and 4kg of paracetamol and caffeine - common cutting agents - being seized.
The following month, on February 11, Kassim and McTigue were arrested during a stop and search on Jesse Hartley Way, off Waterloo Road. Officers discovered 84kg of heroin - worth between £4m and £5m - in holdalls and suitcases.
Mr Travers said that this was "one of the largest single heroin seizures in Merseyside". Kassim had keys to two apartments in the city centre in his possession at the time with a search finding "brown powder residue" across several rooms inside.
McFee subsequently fled the country on February 15, flying out of Manchester Airport. He has not yet been located.
John Rowan, defending McTigue, told the court that the dad-of-two had suffered from drug and gambling problems and was now working as a cleaner in prison. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was jailed for 14 years and eight months after admitting conspiracy to supply heroin, crack cocaine and amphetamine.
Michael O'Brien, who appeared on behalf of Kassim, said his client had battled anxiety and depression. He too is working as a cleaner in the prison.
Judge Robert Trevor-Jones imprisoned him for 10 years and eight months. Kassim had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin.
Meanwhile, barrister Damian Nolan said that Shields had "recklessly and foolishly took a shortcut to obtain money". He received seven years and eight months for conspiracy to supply cocaine and amphetamine and dangerous driving.
Merseyside Police's Detective Inspector Louise Hooley said following the sentencing: "This was a huge operation which saw vast quantities of class A and B drugs produced and distributed across the whole of the country on an industrial scale. Each of those sentenced took part in the business for significant financial gain and, although they all played different roles and were involved to differing degrees, they were all aware of the scale of the operation.
"We know the destruction that drug dealing brings to our communities. Those involved in the supply of drugs have no regard for the lives they affect and the harm they can cause and we are committed to pursuing those involved in serious and organised crime and bringing them to justice.
"Today’s sentences shows the level of our commitment and how seriously this type of activity is viewed by the courts. I am delighted that these sentences will see dangerous people removed from the streets of Merseyside for a considerable period of time, and I hope that our communities feel reassured that we are continuing to take positive action and support us in our efforts.
"We are constantly working with other forces and partners to target offenders and take action, and information from our communities plays a vital part in this. I would like to urge anyone with information on criminality in your area to please come forward so we can act upon it."
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