Family Crime Gang Crushed in Devon Drug Bust
Lester Purdy, 66, and his son Jake, 25, both from Station Road, Ide, have been locked up for running a serious drug racket. Lester copped a hefty 7 years and 8 months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possession of MDMA and cannabis. Jake was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Joining them behind bars are Julian Eslick, 46, from Exeter, sentenced to 4 years, and Trevor Forbes, 58, of Oxford, who got 1 year for money laundering.
Big Drug Haul and Cash Seized
The crackdown kicked off in early 2020 after police launched a major operation targeting the organised crime group. On 11 May, officers swooped on an address in Ide, arresting the four men and uncovering a treasure trove of illegal goods.
- £74,000 in cash seized at Exeter Motorway Services
- 2kg of cocaine, buried in woods near Ide, valued at £200,000
- Luxury cars including a Range Rover and Jaguar recovered
- Two deactivated firearms and encrypted mobile devices confiscated
Half a Million Pounds of Drugs and Dirty Money
Further investigations uncovered more lockups used by the gang and evidence that since February 2019, around £260,000 had been laundered through their criminal activities. Altogether, the drugs and cash seizure topped half a million pounds.
Detective Inspector Dave Egan, who led the probe, said: “This operation by Exeter CID has smashed a large conspiracy to supply serious drugs. Despite Covid lockdown challenges, our team worked tirelessly for over six months to piece together evidence and protect our community.”
He added: “The impact on the normally quiet village of Ide has been significant, and we thank local residents for their ongoing support. Devon and Cornwall Police remain committed to taking down organised crime and keeping our streets safe.”
