Two men from Greater Manchester are among 26 people jailed after a 'major' drugs operation in Lancashire was brought down.
Officers targeted dealers who were bringing large quantities of Class A drugs into the Blackpool and surrounding areas which were then sold and distributed at street level.
One arm of the investigation named Operation Warrior investigation uncovered a gang based in the Wyre area of Lancs with four men - Michael Welsh, Gary Johnson, Kristoffer Pilkington and Christopher Dixon – being arrested and convicted for distributing cocaine.
Another part of the operation focused on the supply ring peddling cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin, which according to Lancashire Police, was controlled by 34-year-old Daniel Myerscough.
Assisted by several others, he was responsible for arranging and purchasing 'bulk quantities' of drugs the force said.
One of those who helped Myerscough was a prisoner James Black, who at the time was serving a prison sentence for drug trafficking offences.
Despite being incarcerated, Black was found to have access to four different phone numbers and evidence showed him to be in contact with dedicated drug deal phone lines.
These would advertise the drugs and be the means through which their sale was arranged. Myerscough had regular contact with those controlling the 'deal lines' or those who owed him money from having used one.
In total 26 people convicted received prison terms totaling 130 years. Among those jailed were Saul Harvey, 24, from Moston, north Manchester who was sentenced to two years and two months behind bars and Christopher Sharrock from Wigan, handed a 10-year sentence.
Speaking after the conclusion of the sentencing hearings at Preston Crown Cout, Det Insp Kathryn Riley of Lancashire Police, said: “This was a complex investigation which targeted the activity of offenders bringing large quantities of Class A drugs into the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde areas.
“We targeted people operating at different levels within organised crime groups. The operation led to a large number of people being convicted and the length of the custodial sentences handed out by the courts confirms how seriously the supply of drugs is taken.
“Drugs can do serious harm to communities and this operation sends out the message that we won’t tolerate drug dealing.”
Andrew Snowden, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire said: "It's important that we send a clear message to criminals that police are coming to get you, and this is another great example of the work officers do, every single day, to disrupt and dismantle organised crime gangs and put them behind bars.
"It's what Op Warrior is all about, taking the fight to criminals that blight our communities, delivering on my Fighting Crime Plan and seeing even more arrests, more asset seizures and more drugs off our streets.
"Results like this, which will directly make Lancashire safer, is what the public want to see and delivers on a top priority in my Fighting Crime Plan.
"I would encourage anyone to report suspicious activity, or any information that might help in bringing criminals to justice. We continue to go after more and make sure those involved in organised crime feel the full force of the law and have their day in court."
Full list of those convicted and their sentences
Michael Welsh, 56, of Ash Road, Thornton - eight years and eight months.
Gary Johnson, 63, of Rede Avenue, Fleetwood - five years and five months.
Christopher Dixon, 31, of Swallow Close, Thornton– two years and five months.
Kristoffer Pilkington, 41, Blackpool Road, Poulton - two years and nine months.
Daniel Myerscough, 34, of Stoneway Road, Thornton – 10 years.
James Black, 37, of Kildare Avenue, Thornton – 13 years.
Alan Laughlin, 54, of Lune Grove, Blackpool – seven years and six months.
Kyle Sullivan, 36, of Springfield Grove, Liverpool - nine years.
Christopher Sharrock, 30, of Lancaster Road, Marsh Green, Wigan - 10 years.
Debra Curran, 56, of Airdrie Place, Blackpool – five years and five months.
Anthony Hayes, 35, of Lennox Court, Blackpool – four years and six months.
Anthony Judge, 53, of the Promenade, Blackpool – two years and two months.
Liam Kelly, 52, of Kairnryan Close, Bispham, Blackpool – four years and six months.
Craig Wright, 39, of no fixed address – nine years.
Jake Belcher, 23, of Salthouse Avenue, Blackpool – three years and six months.
Tony Butcher, 34, of Airdrie Place, Blackpool - four years and five months.
Kyle McCabe, 27, of Coleridge Road, Blackpool – three years and six months.
Saul Harvey, 24, of Nolan Street, Moston, Manchester - two years and two months.
Jack Houghton, 23, of School Road, Blackpool - three years.
Jae Prince, 33, of Westmorland Road, Blackpool – two years and eight months.
William Welsh, 25, of Warley Road, Blackpool - four years and four months.
Andrew Sweet, 47, of Falmouth Road, Blackpool - six years.
Ryan Taylor, 22, of Acorn Mews, Blackpool – four years and six months.
John Kirkwood, 39, of George Street, Blackpool - five years and five months.
Daniel Holt, 24, of First Avenue, Blackpool – two years.
Darren Thomas, 32, of Dinmore Avenue, Blackpool - three years.
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