Drug Gang Busted After Nine-Month Cocaine Courier Spree
Eight men and one woman ran 20 courier runs in nine months during 2020 before the cops slammed the brakes on their illegal drug operation.
EncroChat Crackdown Leads to Gang Arrests
Devon & Cornwall Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Branch caught wind that the crew was using encrypted EncroChat to plan their moves. Officers tracked their online chats and monitored visits to the Southwest before launching a sting in October 2020 that took down the entire ring.
Hefty Jail Terms at Exeter Crown Court
The nine suspects were sentenced after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and related offences. This wrapped up Operation Lunched, a two-year probe that uncovered drug trafficking of cocaine and cannabis into Devon. So far, 10 people have been locked up for over 30 years combined.
Masterminds and Couriers Caught Cold
- Top bosses: Stacy Howells, 45, from Torquay, and Anthony Carr, 46, from North Finchley, London, ran the outfit. They organised shipments of 50-60kg of cocaine into Torquay and Exeter, juggled drug runs, pickups, and cash. Howells got 13 years 10 months; Carr nailed 10 years 4 months.
- Sidekicks: Kevin Leaman, 44, Exeter, bagged 5 years after pleading guilty. Adam Hammerton, 45, St Albans, got 8 years after a trial.
- Trusted couriers: Kieran Martin, 33, Plymouth, sentenced to 2 years 2 months; Jason Tarone, 52, Islington, 2 years 7 months after admitting guilt. Lee, 60, London, got a 2-year suspended sentence following a jury conviction.
Clever Surveillance and Bold Police Seizures
Officers combined online message snooping, cell phone tracking, CCTV, and covert surveillance to piece together the criminal puzzle. A vehicle stop unearthed a hidden compartment inside a courier van and £37,500 in cash was seized.
From Carr’s intercepted messages: “Driver supposed to be back at @3:10 phone off…stressing me out.” Followed by: “He’s been nicked mate Exeter Police Station give me abit mate he’s got a bit of 1 plotted also just having a sort out.”
Despite arrests, the gang kept running using trusted couriers to transport drugs and collect cash from previous deals.
Warehouse Couple and Final Bust
On 1 October 2020, police stopped a drug handover in a Marsh Barton, Exeter car park, seizing kilos of cocaine and £47,000 cash. Further searches revealed Darren Hardman, 52, and Waraporn Hardman, 47, storing large amounts of cocaine at their Torquay home. Darren was jailed for 4 years and 10 months, while Waraporn received a 10-month suspended sentence for letting their property be used in the supply chain. Both pleaded guilty.
This widescale police operation has dismantled a major cocaine supply ring in the Southwest, sending a clear message to drug traffickers.
