Drug Deal Caught on CCTV in Stanley
CCTV footage shows Christopher Paul Chambers making a slick ‘return’ handover in 2020, swapping drugs wrapped in an orange hi-vis jacket to courier Bradley Mark Sinclair in the Stanley area.
Encrypted Chats Lead to Massive Cocaine Bust
The exchange was uncovered during a wider investigation into Chambers, who used the EncroChat network under the alias Magentariver. Intelligence officers, working as part of Operation Venetic, cracked his encrypted messages, revealing he’d been smuggling several kilos of cocaine from the North West.
Police estimate around 6kg of cocaine with a street value of £600,000 was supplied via Chambers’ criminal network.
Drug Quality Complaint Gets ‘Refund’
Chambers communicated with another contact in the North West to coordinate drug deliveries. Shockingly, officers discovered that during this particular meeting, Chambers complained about the cocaine quality—and was given a refund.
Cash Sting in Cambridge and Heavy Sentences
The investigation intensified when Sinclair was caught with a staggering £223,870 in cash found in his car in Cambridge. Following the arrests, Chambers, from Preston, and Sinclair, from South Shields, were charged with conspiring to supply cocaine. Sinclair, 44, also faced charges for possession of criminal property.
Sinclair pleaded guilty at Durham Crown Court on June 20 and was handed five years and three months for drug supply, plus another two years for possessing criminal property.
Chambers, 31, fled before his trial but was convicted in absentia and sentenced to 15 years in prison. A warrant is now out for his arrest.
Detective Inspector Amanda Howe of Durham Constabulary said: “Drugs have a detrimental impact upon our communities and we will always do everything in our power to stop and disrupt those supplying and dealing these substances. This type of activity will continue under the banner of Operation Sentinel – a partnership initiative targeting serious and organised crime across the region.”
