Drug Gang Busted in Massive North England Police Crackdown
160 Officers Smash Major Drug Ring
In November 2019, over 160 officers from across Northern England launched a huge operation to bring down a notorious drug cartel once and for all. The coordinated raids targeted 15 properties linked to ringleader Leighton Hackett and his crew, including Sonny Thompson, Jake Lee, and John Nelson.
Ringleader’s Stash Uncovered
Hackett, caught with 11 phones, £6,600 cash, anti-surveillance gadgets, and weapons like knuckledusters and hunting knives at his County Durham home, admitted conspiring to supply heroin and cannabis. Nelson also pleaded guilty after being caught with over 5 kilos of heroin.
Multi-County Drug Operation
Newcastle Crown Court heard how the gang operated between Liverpool, Wearside, and Merseyside, using couriers to move drugs. The police seized heroin worth £600,000, £18,000 cash, and six luxury cars during the raids—the largest operation the force has seen to date.
Sentences Total 35 Years and 10 Months
The seven men involved were handed hefty prison sentences at Newcastle Crown Court last Friday (March 25), with a combined total of nearly 36 years behind bars. Here’s how they were sentenced:
- Leighton Hackett, 37, Hesledon, Hartlepool – 9 years for conspiracy to supply heroin and cannabis.
- John Nelson, 50, Houghton Le Spring – 7 years 3 months for possession with intent to supply heroin.
- Sonny Thompson, 27, Sunderland – 8 months for conspiracy to supply cannabis.
- Jake Lee, 22, Sunderland – 8 months for conspiracy to supply cannabis.
- Yoann Lou, 39, Liverpool – 6 years 4 months for conspiracy to supply heroin.
- Martin Pearson, 32, Liverpool – 6 years 5 months for conspiracy to supply heroin.
- Gareth Lewis, 44, Liverpool – 2 years 10 months for conspiracy to supply heroin.
Force Hails the End of a Crime Cartel
“These sentences mark the end of a long-running investigation into Hackett and his associates who were causing misery across Wearside, Merseyside and beyond,” said Detective Inspector Brian Smith of the Priority and Organised Crime Team. “We will continue to disrupt organised crime and bring offenders to justice.”
Operation Sentinel remains on high alert to snuff out criminal gangs preying on our communities.
