Six offenders have been handed a combined total of almost 40 years in prison for orchestrating a massive cocaine trafficking ring in North Devon. The gang flooded the area with Class A drugs worth millions, sparking a major police crackdown under Operation Haku.
How the Drug Empire Operated Across North Devon and Liverpool
The organised crime network spanned North Devon, West Yorkshire, and Merseyside. Couriers made regular trips to Liverpool to collect kilos of cocaine, which were then shipped back to Devon and sold on the streets.
Detectives uncovered 17 separate drug runs, with an estimated street value hitting a staggering £4 million.
The Key Players
- Christopher Harper, 46, Goole – Organiser
- Stephen Reid, 52, Liverpool – Organiser
- Paige Kightley, 31, Bideford – North Devon Regional Manager
- Neil Warren, 49, Ilfracombe – Courier
- Karl Aldridge, 38, Barnstaple – Street Supplier
- Ezra Walker, 40, Manchester – Supplier/Courier
The Busts That Took Down the Ring
Officers first caught Walker on November 5, 2024, as he drove to Barnstaple with cocaine hidden in his car. A police search at Aldridge’s home uncovered drugs, scales, cash, and dealer lists.
The gang’s courier, Neil Warren, was arrested on December 12, 2024, after being caught with 3kg of cocaine worth £240,000 in his vehicle. CCTV showed him meeting Harper at a Premier Inn after collecting the drugs in Liverpool.
Harper and Reid organised all drug deals via mobile phones, tracking couriers with precise locations and instructions for each trip.
Final Sentences: Justice Served
All six pleaded guilty and faced Exeter Crown Court.
- Christopher Harper – 10 years 5 months
- Stephen Reid – 7 years 5 months
- Paige Kightley – 5 years 7 months
- Neil Warren – 4 years
- Karl Aldridge – 5 years 4 months
- Ezra Walker – 5 years 4 months
The Devon & Cornwall Police Serious & Organised Crime Investigation Team praised the arrests as a huge blow to organised drug supply in the South West.
