A drug gang who flooded Wales with cocaine from Merseyside have been jailed.
Paul Price, the boss of the drug operation, facilitated the supply of high purity cocaine from Merseyside to North Wales. He enlisted the help of Ryan Hope, from Speke, who worked alongside Price and operated in a "organisational role"
Hope's partner, Kayleigh Crumpton, 35, facilitated communication between the 38-year-old and her friend Rebecca Theresa Entwistle. The court heard Crumpton was instrumental in recruiting Entwistle as a courier with promises of easy money and drugs. For her role she was sentenced to a two-year suspended sentence.
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Entwistle, 27, was a courier for the drugs gang between November 2020 and December 2021. She was recruited by Hope through his partner Crumpton, collecting cocaine from Hope in Liverpool and taking it directly to a property in North Wales under the supervision of Alan Williams.
The 27-year-old would then return to Liverpool with cash. She was handed a two-year suspended sentence. Williams 48, another drug dealer, operated out of a house on Coast Road, Rhyl and was remanded in custody to be sentenced at a later date.
Both Price, 55, and Hope were jailed for 11 years and four months. Phillip Thomas Owens, 54, was also a sub-dealer operating out of Meredith Crescent in Rhyl and his address was used to receive commodities of drugs following the closure of another property.
Owen was jailed for five years in prison for his role. Malcolm Griffiths was another sub-dealer within the conspiracy and he bought cocaine in bulk frequently throughout the duration of the drug operation and had a debt to Paul Price of £39,200. Griffiths was jailed for five years.
Drug dealer Farrell Anthony Denton, 34, another was jailed for three and a half years for his role. Robert Thomas, 53, was a trusted associate and driver to Paul Price and was also jailed for three and a half years.
- Paul Price, of Pendyffryn Road, Rhyl, and Ryan Hope, of Hansby Drive, Speke, were each jailed for 11 years and four months.
- Malcolm Griffiths, of Vale Road, Rhyl, and Philip Owens, of Meredith Crescent, Rhyl, were each jailed for five years.
- Farrell Denton, of Gwynfryn Avenue, Rhyl, and Robert Thomas, of Maple Avenue, Rhyl, were each jailed for three-and-a-half years.
Speaking after sentencing, Detective Inspector Richard Sidney of the force Serious and Organised Crime Unit said: "This was a sophisticated and well developed enterprise of criminal activity designed to flood the streets of Rhyl and beyond with illegal Class A drugs, and today’s sentences demonstrate the severity of the crimes being committed.
"This is a clear message to those that partake in the supply of drugs that you are not welcome in north Wales."
Local Inspector Kevin Smith said: "I welcome today’s outcome, as it reflects the impact of organised crime groups on our local community. We will continue to disrupt and dismantle County Lines and any other activities that threaten harm and misery to our residents."
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