Devon & Cornwall Police News site

Members of an organised crime group responsible for trafficking heroin and cocaine with a street value of more than £380,000 from Liverpool to Plymouth have been jailed for a total of more than 56 years.

The five men and two women either pleaded guilty or were convicted at Plymouth Crown Court in December 2023 on charges of conspiring to supply class A drugs into Plymouth in 2019 and 2020.

The seven gang members were sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court on Friday 2 February for conspiracy to supply class A drugs and other linked offences.

The sentences mark the conclusion of Operation Hacker, a four-year investigation, during the course of which, £82,000 of cocaine and £300,000 of heroin was seized, as well as £57,000 in cash.

Officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Investigation Team in Devon & Cornwall Police began the investigation into the group in March 2019.

Members of the gang were arrested between 2020 and 2021 when warrants were executed at properties in Plymouth and Liverpool.

The principal organiser in the conspiracy was Michael Slemen, 42, of Richland Road, Liverpool, who was known as ‘Slim’ or ‘Big Man’. He pleaded guilty to four charges of conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin. He was sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison.

Ryan Edwards, 38, of Wantage Gardens, Plymouth, a courier in the gang also pleaded guilty to the same four charges. He was sentenced to serve a term of 12 years.

A key distributor and lieutenant in the group was Kristian Edwards, 46, of Wantage Gardens, Plymouth. Originally from Liverpool with a nickname of ‘Scouse Phil’, he was found guilty on two charges of conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin. He was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in jail.

Michelle Smith, 55, of Wadham Terrace, Plymouth, was a sub-dealer in the gang who ran its warehouse. She pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin and was also found guilty of possession with intent to supply amphetamines. She was sentenced to serve seven-and-a-half years in prison.

Sonia McCormick, 43, of Moorland Gardens, Plymouth was also a sub-dealer. She was found guilty on two charges of conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin. She was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison.

Two other couriers in the gang were from Liverpool.

Robert Sefton, 63, of Sandringham Road, was found guilty on two charges of conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin. He was sentenced to five-and-a-half years.

Stanley Feerick, 69, of Longreach Road, was found guilty on a charge of conspiracy to supply cocaine and was sentenced to two years and three months.

Detectives monitored the group’s messages online and together with cell site analysis of mobile phones, CCTV and covert surveillance, they built up a picture of the operation being run.

Principal organiser Slemen used a dual handset phone consisting of two telephone numbers as well as burner phones. He would use one number to contact his sub-dealers and one to contact his supplier, Smith.

Slemen would arrange the timings that Smith was available to be seen by buyers and would arrange for buyers to visit her.

He would use couriers to deliver the drugs to the South West on a regular basis. During courier trips, Kristian Edwards would be in contact with couriers and Slemen to coordinate the logistics of each run.

Money would then be returned to Slemen in Liverpool, with unexplained cash being deposited into his bank account on a regular basis.

Many of those in the gang operated more than one mobile phone number.

Gang members would also make the journey from Liverpool to Plymouth by train, often returning on the same day or the day after, while staying in regular contact with each other during the trip.

Specialist Financial Officers will now seek to recover assets gained from the illicit activities, under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Sergeant Paula Tucker of Plymouth CID said: “Devon and Cornwall Police has a strong stance and will actively seek to disrupt and prosecute dangerous drugs networks. We have a beautiful county, which we will continue to protect against those who seek to supply drugs within our force area.

“Organised crime groups like this make profit out of vulnerable people, they target and exploit the most vulnerable in the community, for their own financial gain. They cause misery to the families of those who are addicted to such drugs and to the communities around them.

“This was a hugely complex investigation which took time to fully understand the operating model of this organised crime group and their key members. The meticulous analytical work, along with old fashioned police work has resulted in today’s sentences.

“I would like to thank the complex case team at the CPS, who worked with us from the outset of this case.

“I would also like to thank the jury for their attention and diligence during this long trial. This was a very complex inquiry and they remained focused on the evidence presented to them by the prosecution.

“Police will always seek to disrupt the trafficking of drugs and the criminal behaviour associated with it, but we need the help of the public to be our eyes and ears and let us know what is going on in their community. If you have information about drug suppliers, please contact police either on 101 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111."