SEVEN members of a drugs gang – including a man from Weston-Super-Mare – have been jailed for a combined total of more than 57 years.

The group have been sentenced for their involvement in a multi-million pound cocaine conspiracy spanning Portsmouth, Southampton and Weston.

Officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Serious & Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) launched Operation Graffiti and investigated the drugs supply in these areas between February 11 and July 17, 2020.

As part of the investigation, 10kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of £1 million was seized, in addition to £594,690 in cash.

The investigation determined members of the organised crime group (OCG) used encrypted messaging app EncroChat to communicate and organise the collection and distribution of cocaine.

However, EncroChat was accessed by law enforcement across the UK and Europe in 2020, allowing police officers to extract data – including information that showed the gang contacting customers, offering cocaine for sale, co-ordinating its delivery and collecting money.

The SOCU investigation determined Peter Morrison was involved in the collection and distribution of cocaine, and the collection, counting and onward passage of cash obtained in the sale of the cocaine.

He would also act as a conduit for certain customers, and was the primary conduit for Ryan Lafferty – one of the OCG’s couriers who would make trips to London, Weston-Super-Mare and Kent for the collection or distribution of drugs.

On July 13, 2020, Lafferty was arrested in Hampshire on his way back from Slough, where he had collected 10 kilos of cocaine.

Anthony Kelleher was determined to be a trusted and valued member of the OCG, storing both large amounts of cash and multi-kilo amounts of cocaine at his home address.

He also collected and distributed large amounts of cocaine, and collected and facilitated onward passage of the cash obtained in its sale.

He made multiple trips to London to collect large amounts of cocaine and to transport significant amounts of cash – in excess of £200,000.

As with other couriers, Kelleher also made a trip to Weston-Super-Mare to deliver cocaine to Isaac Wyatt – another conspirator.

Courier David Brennan was instructed over encrypted message to collect multiple kilograms of cocaine from London for transportation to Portsmouth, which in turn would be sold on.

He also collected cash which was passed on to the cocaine supplier.

Ricky Lane supported the OCG by assisting in the onward movement of significant sums of cash from cocaine sales. He would purchase cocaine in kilo weights and ounces for onward sale, and was also involved in the cultivation of cannabis on a commercial scale.

On June 3, 2020, he met Kelleher and received two black bin liners stuffed with £300,000 in cash, which had been stored at the address of Marcel Binns.

Lane was arrested shortly after, and police found £170,000 in cash under the stairs in his home address.

In his garage, police found hydroponics used in the cultivation of cannabis, along with two canisters believed to contain 50 litres of amphetamine oil.

On June 10, 2020, Binns’ home address was searched and a black bin liner full of cash, containing just over £110,000 was seized from a suitcase beneath her bed. A further £9,000 was seized from her wardrobe.

The following people pleaded guilty to offences that were charged as a result of the investigation:

• Peter Morrison, 39, of Bromyard Crescent in Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. Morrison was sentenced on December 19 at Portsmouth Crown Court for his involvement in this drugs conspiracy and a separate drugs conspiracy investigated under the name Operation Portable. Morrison was jailed for 17 and a half years.
• Anthony Kelleher, 55, of Fourth Avenue in Cosham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. At Portsmouth Crown Court on December 19 he was jailed for 11 years and 2 months.
• Ricky Lane, 37, of Blackcap Close, Rowland’s Castle, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and being concerned in the supply of cannabis. At Portsmouth Crown Court on December 19 he was jailed for 9 years and 8 months.
• Isaac Wyatt, 37, of Hafner Green, Weston-Super-Mare, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and possession of cannabis with intent to supply. At Portsmouth Crown Court on December 19 he was jailed for 8 years and 9 months.
• David Brennan, 53, of Merthyr Avenue in Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. At Portsmouth Crown Court on December 19 he was jailed for 5 years and 3 months.
• Ryan Lafferty, 43, of North Street in Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. At Portsmouth Crown Court on December 19 he was jailed for 5 years and 3 months.
• Marcel Binns, 67, of Mallow Close, Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to possession of criminal property. At Portsmouth Crown Court on December 19 she was sentenced to 9 months, suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work.

Police seized cocaine worth around £1m during the investigation. Picture: SOCU/Hampshire Police

Investigating officer DC Steve Brown, from SOCU, said: “Operation Graffiti was a complex investigation and I’m pleased that these sentences send a strong message to those involved in the supply of drugs that we will not tolerate this activity.

“We estimate that this OCG could have sold anywhere between 230kg and 393kg of cocaine during the conspiracy period, potentially worth tens of millions of pounds.

“The fact that one of the defendants, Peter Morrison, was also sentenced for a separate drugs conspiracy investigated under Operation Portable, demonstrates the complexities we face when investigating and dismantling gangs like this.

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“Our message is clear, if you are involved in the supply of drugs we will relentlessly pursue you and bring you to justice.

“We continue to encourage anyone who has information about drugs supply in their neighbourhood to report this to us, as this helps us build up an overall picture of the issues affecting your area.”

Anyone with concerns about drug-related activity in their neighbourhood should contact police on 101 or 999 in an emergency, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.