Preston Drug Kingpin and Gang Nabbed in Major Crackdown
A ruthless organised crime gang in Preston has been smashed after a lengthy police probe into massive supplies of Class A drugs and money laundering. The gang’s boss, Niall McFarlane, 29, orchestrated the wholesale supply of heroin and cocaine, which were then cut and peddled through ‘drug lines’—phone numbers used to advertise and sell drugs.
Encrypted Phones and Undercover Infiltration
The gang relied on Encrochat, a secret encrypted phone network, to carry out their deals unseen. But in 2020, the National Crime Agency’s Operation Venetic took down Encrochat servers, exposing their covert chats.
Detectives launched Operation Whistler in 2019, piecing together months of painstaking evidence. They uncovered how McFarlane, codenamed “Rawbear,” and his crew ran Preston’s drug streets with brutal efficiency.
Heavy Jail Terms for Preston’s Poison Dealers
McFarlane and six other gang members were this week sentenced to almost 60 years behind bars. An eighth suspect got a suspended sentence.
“This OCG [Organised Crime Group] brought misery to Preston and beyond,” said Det Con Richard Shires. “Their only goal was cash, with zero regard for the destruction they caused.”
“Drugs ruin lives. We are relentless in hunting down serious criminals and making our communities safer.”
Sentences at a Glance
- Niall McFarlane, 29, Maxy House Road, Preston – 11 years 3 months
- Pritesh Chohan, 29, Lyndon Close, Preston – 10 years
- Ben Sanders, 31, Lovat Road, Preston – 9 years 6 months
- Daniel Quinn, 30, Holme Slack Lane, Preston – 9 years
- Steven Crook, 31, Westfield Drive, Preston – 7 years 6 months
- Owen Collier, 23, Woodacre Road, Preston – 5 years 4 months
- Daniel Hughes, 38, Lovat Road, Preston – 4 years
- Ethan Knowles, 21, Maple Grove, Preston – 2 years suspended
All, except Knowles, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, and money laundering. Knowles pleaded guilty to supplying both cocaine and heroin. These punishments send a stark warning to the criminal underworld: Lancashire’s streets won’t be safe for poison dealers.
