A drugs gang boss who peddled kilos of cocaine and heroin throughout Greater Manchester was caught out by WhatsApp messages he sent to others. Remi Merriman, 35, was at the centre of the trafficking ‘business’ and was involved in the selling of ‘wholesale’ quantities of class A drugs.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard that he employed a ‘trusted lieutenant’, Lewis Carr, 30, to package and deliver the drugs, as well as collecting cash. As Lewis Carr couldn’t drive, Merriman instructed David Cottrell, 30, to drive him to various locations across the North West.
The organised criminal group were caught out following a lengthy investigation by Greater Manchester Police which unveiled numerous messages between Merriman and others who bought the drugs. During the first day of the sentencing hearing, the court heard how each of the nine defendants in the dock played a part in the conspiracy from 2019 to 2020.
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Prosecuting, Helena Williams said that police executed a number of search warrants, starting off at Merriman’s home in Hattersley. Whilst they found no drugs, they found expensive clothing, four Rolex watches, high calibre bicycles and a mobile phone, which was later analysed and revealed a number of incriminating WhatsApp messages.
A ‘snapshot’ of the messages over a seven week period revealed that Merriman organised the sale of 1.82 kilos of heroin, worth between £72,000 and £109,000, and 2.33 kilos of cocaine, worth between £116k and £166k. Numerous messages between February 2 and March 18 2020 showed conversations between Merriman and customers.
Messages between Merriman and Lewis Carr were also recovered, including a message from Carr which involved a debtors list, with him asking Merriman: “anyone else I missed?”
Ms Williams said that Benjamin Grimes, 32, was a ‘customer’ who ordered large amounts of both cocaine and heroin over messages on a regular basis and paid large payments. When he was later arrested in connection with the conspiracy, officers found ten cannabis plants in his house.
Evidence from Merriman’s phone showed conversations with David Mulligan, 32, about the sale of drugs, with Mulligan offering a cheaper price for the sale of heroin.
“David Mulligan was serving a 12 year sentence for trafficking drugs. He was in prison in possession of an illegal phone, and continued his drug supply network,” Ms Williams said.
Andrew Brereton, 56, was said to be an ‘associate’ of Mulligan and Nathan Powell, who was jailed for nine years and eight months in May for peddling cocaine. Brereton was found to be involved in the supply of drugs and collection of cash.
Matthew Lister, 42, also bought heroin in wholesale amounts for onward supply, the prosecutor said.
Also involved in the trafficking of class A drugs was Jordan Carr, 24, who used his mum’s house on Princess Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, to organise the drugs. Jeanette Carr, 55, was ‘aware’ of what her son was doing, messages later showed.
- Merriman, of Cambourne Road, Hattersley, admitted conspiracy to supply drugs and two counts of conspiracy to convey an article into a prison.
- Lewis Carr, of Hart Mill Close, Mossley, admitted conspiracy to supply drugs.
- Brereton, of Bob Massey Close, Openshaw, Manchester, admitted conspiracy to supply drugs.
- Lister, of Monks Lane, Breightmet, Bolton, admitted conspiracy to supply drugs and possession of drugs.
- Grimes, of Hall Carr Road, Rossendale, Lancashire, admitted conspiracy to supply drugs and producing a controlled drug of class B.
- Jordan Carr, of Princess Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, admitted being concerned in the supply of drugs.
- Jeanette Carr, also of Princess Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, admitted permitting premises to be used in the supply of drugs.
- Cottrell, of Alexandra Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, admitted assisting an offender and possession of a bladed article.
- Mulligan, of HMP Manchester, admitted conspiracy to supply drugs.
They will all be sentenced tomorrow (August 24).
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