SIX men have been jailed for their part in a massive drug dealing operation in Coventry.
The men – who moved huge amounts of cocaine and other drugs around the country throughout 2022 – have been jailed for a combined total of more than 60 years following an investigation by West midlands Police’s Regional Organised Crime Unit.
Members of the group, headed up by Jonathan Mann, would drive around the country transporting drugs worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Over a 280 day period between April and November 2022, they made 163 journeys, driving up and down the country and staying in locations including Crewe and Bristol for a short time before returning to Coventry with drugs or money.
Mann oversaw the distribution of the drugs, while brothers Alexander and Luke Purcell acted as couriers to move the drugs.
Ian Lewis laundered the group’s ill-gotten gains, as well as collecting money on behalf of Mann to buy luxury cars.
Ryan Prescott was the principle courier, moving more than 100 kilograms of Class A drugs alongside Mann and the Purcell brothers.
Finally, Thomas Johnson was identified during the investigation as a customer of the group, buying five kilogrammes of cocaine for his own drug supply operation.
Johnson initially pleaded not guilty, blaming family members for his own criminality. He was found guilty at trial.
Throughout the investigation, officers observed the men driving high-end cars and wearing luxury clothes and watches despite only having a modest legitimate income from their jobs.
Messages sent between the group’s members were seen in which they discussed how much money and drugs they were moving.
The group used codenames in their messaging including ‘Cookies’ and ‘Greyman’ – believed to be the aliases of Prescott and Mann.
Their messages included telling each other how much money they could keep as payment for courier work as well as the quantities of drugs being ordered by customers.
The six defendants were all arrested in 2022 and charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
When officers searched Luke Purcell’s house, they found a top-venting handgun which had been converted to fire live ammunition.
Throughout the investigation, officers seized 21 kilos of cocaine, 4.9 kilos of ketamine, 17 grams of MDMA and more than £450,000 in cash.
It is believed Mann, the Purcells and Prescott were involved in moving more than 100 kilos of Class A drugs each.
At Birmingham Crown Court, Mann, 31, of Gretna Road, was jailed for 13 years and four months after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property
Johnson, 35, of Trafford Close in Atherstone was jailed for 16 years for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs, and possession of criminal property
Luke Purcell, 30, of Barkers Butts Lane, was jailed for 13 years and two months after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession of criminal property and possession of a firearm.
Alexander Purcell, 32, of Burns Road, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property and was jailed for nine years.
Prescott, 29, of Morris Avenue, was jailed for eight years after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property.
And Lewis, 28, of Hollyfast Road, pleaded guilty to money laundering and was jailed for three years.
