Six Drug Dealers Jailed for Flooding North Devon with £4 Million Cocaine
Six crooks landed a combined sentence of nearly 40 years behind bars for flooding North Devon with millions worth of Class A drugs. Operation Haku exposed a ruthless crime syndicate linking North Devon to West Yorkshire and Merseyside in a major police crackdown.
Inside the Gang’s Slick Cocaine Courier Network
The gang ran a high-speed courier racket, making 17 cocaine runs between Liverpool and Devon. Their haul hit a staggering street value of up to £4 million. Once the drugs reached Devon, street dealers in Barnstaple and nearby towns took over distribution.
Courier Neil Warren was caught red-handed with 3kg of cocaine worth £240,000 during a return trip from Liverpool.
The Criminal Cast: Who’s Who in the Drug Ring
- Christopher Harper, 46, Goole – Lead organiser.
- Stephen Reid, 52, Liverpool – Co-organiser.
- Paige Kightley, 31, Bideford – North Devon regional boss.
- Neil Warren, 49, Ilfracombe – Courier caught with drugs.
- Karl Aldridge, 38, Barnstaple – Street supplier.
- Ezra Walker, 40, Manchester – Supplier and courier.
Police Operation Uncovers Damning Evidence
Police released dramatic footage of Warren’s arrest on the M5 and a covert hotel drug deal between Harper and Warren. On 5 November 2024, Walker was stopped on the A361 near Barnstaple with cocaine hidden in his car. This led officers to Aldridge’s home, where they seized more drugs, dealer equipment, and cash.
The gang’s communications were closely monitored. Harper’s texts branched out, instructing Warren: “ring me asap, pal, it’s time to get busy.” Warren was caught with £240,000 worth of drugs shortly after leaving Liverpool in December 2024.
Harper was finally nabbed in Peterborough in April 2025, holding the gang’s drug network phone. Reid was arrested in Liverpool with multiple devices used to organise shipments. Kightley was taken into custody at her Barnstaple home with drug paraphernalia.
Hard-Hitting Sentences Handed Down
- Karl Aldridge – 5 years 4 months.
- Ezra Walker – 5 years 4 months.
- Neil Warren – 4 years.
- Christopher Harper – 10 years 5 months.
- Stephen Reid – 7 years 5 months.
- Paige Kightley – 5 years 7 months.
“This group exploited vulnerable people and brought fear and misery to our communities,” said Detective Inspector Daniel Bickford. “Today’s sentences send a clear message: organised crime will not be tolerated.”
North Devon police chief Graham Thomas added: “These sentences should deter anyone thinking of dealing drugs here. Our communities feel the impact of drug supply and crime, and we are determined to stamp it out.”
Help Fight Drug Crime – Speak Up Now
If you have information on drug activity, report it anonymously by calling 0800 555 111. For non-emergencies, contact Devon & Cornwall Police on 101, or visit their official website. In an emergency, always dial 999.
