Police have shared photos of the huge haul of drugs and cash that were seized after a crime gang was jailed for a combined total of more than 33 years.
A drugs ring wreaked havoc on Wearside, flooding the North East with heroin and cannabis - but in November 2019, more than 160 officers from across the North of England joined forces to dismantle it for good. As part of a coordinated crackdown, 15 properties were raided and a total of nine men were arrested.
The properties raided included those belonging to ringleader Leighton Hackett and his associates Sonny Thompson, Jake Lee, and John Nelson. Hackett, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply heroin and cannabis, was arrested alongside his workers.
Read more: Pensioner, 73, sustains life-threatening injuries after being knocked over by car in Whitley Bay
A search of his County Durham home uncovered 11 phones, £6,600 cash, anti-surveillance equipment, and a stash of weapons including a knuckleduster and hunting knives.
Last year Nelson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supplying heroin after being found in possession of 5.03kgs of the class A drug on his arrest. Thompson and Lee denied their involvement but later pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply cannabis.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how the group had been monitored for several months while they were travelling to and from Liverpool where they met with associates Yoann Lou and Martin Pearson. Together they organised couriers to deliver the drugs to Wearside.
And, when the group was caught it was one of the largest operations the Force has carried out to date - with 160 officers targeting addresses in Sunderland, Durham, and Merseyside. Heroin worth £600,000 was recovered as well as £18,000 in cash and six luxury cars.
Following the complex investigation, seven men were subsequently charged, and on Friday (March 25) they all were sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court. Detective Inspector Brian Smith, from the Force’s Priority and organised Crime Team (POCT), praised the sentences, saying they marked the end of an organised criminal group who had brazenly broken the law.
He said: "As a Force, we have always made it clear that we will take firm action against anyone involved in organised crime and we will never apologise for that. These sentences mark the end of a long-running investigation into Hackett, his associates, and their despicable drugs enterprise which was causing misery for residents not only on Wearside but on Merseyside and beyond.
"These shameless criminals will happily line their pockets selling highly addictive substances, regardless of how many serious problems this causes for the most vulnerable people in our society.
"On behalf of the Force, I would like to thank all the officers involved in this investigation, including those from the North East Regional Special Operations Unit (NERSOU) and Merseyside Police, who not only helped us carry out a successful day of action, but whose subsequent enquiries helped land all those involved before the courts, with each and every one of them now brought to justice.
"Be aware that under the banner of Operation Sentinel we will continue to disrupt organised criminality and pursue those who flout the law and make money from making our communities miserable."
Leighton Hackett, 37, of Hesledon, near Hartlepool previously admitted conspiracy to supply heroin and cannabis and was sentenced to a total of nine years.
John Nelson, 50, of Morton Crescent Houghton-le-Spring pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and was sentenced to 7 years and 3 months in prison.
Sonny Thompson, 27, of Nora Street, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis and was sentenced to 8 months in prison.
Jake Lee, 22, of Mayfield Avenue, Sunderland pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis and was sentenced to 8 months in prison.
Yoann Lou, 39, of Wharncliffe Road, Liverpool pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and was sentenced to 6 years and 4 months.
Martin Pearson, 32, of Aspes Road, Liverpool pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and was sentenced to 6 years and 5 months.
Gareth Lewis, 44, of Minver Road, Liverpool pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and was sentenced to 2 years and 10 months.
Click here to sign up to Chronicle Live's Court Newsletter for all the latest news and top crime stories from Newcastle's courts.
