Six criminals have been slammed with hefty prison sentences totalling over 60 years at Bolton Crown Court for a massive drug import plot. The gang tried to smuggle class A and B drugs worth more than £1 million into the UK.
During the trial, two defendants bizarrely claimed money transfers to a man in Jamaica were “for goats, not drugs.” The Jamaican contact had previously been deported from the UK. Police did not accept this explanation.
This case came to light after the UK Border Force intercepted 8 kilos of pure cocaine from Jamaica in March 2024. The drugs were destined for homes across Greater Manchester.
Following arrests in May 2025, police conducted raids in December at homes in Gorton, Didsbury, and Stockport. In Gorton, officers found 4 kilos more cocaine, thousands of MDMA and 2CB pills, a kilo of cannabis, and £100,000 in cash.
The sentenced individuals include:
- Darren Bailey, 44, from Stockport, the ringleader, sentenced to 19 years for multiple drug offences.
- Nathan Charles, 33, based in Gorton, sentenced to 17 years.
- Adrian Stephenson, 34, from Bury, received 9.5 years for conspiring to import class A drugs.
- Panashe Nyamariwata, 27, from Salford, sentenced to 6 years.
- Charlene Bellamy, 41, from Oldham, received 5 years.
- Kamica Morris, 29, Manchester-based, jailed for 4 years.
Meanwhile, Hannah Conlon, 32, is due to be sentenced next month at Liverpool Crown Court. She was caught with over 3 kilos of cannabis shipped from America to be delivered to her home in Bury.
Police praised the operation for dismantling this dangerous drug ring and cutting off the supply to Greater Manchester.
Originally published by UKNIP.
