Five Drug Dealers Jailed in Major West Yorkshire Bust
Five men have been locked up after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, and cannabis across the UK. Their dirty dealings spanned from March 2020 to May 2021.
Sentences Handed Down
- Jamie Whitehead, 34, of Clifton Common, Brighouse – 14 years.
- Thomas Stead, 34, of Freeman Court, Brighouse – 10 years.
- Simon Bolland, 33, of Smallwood Gardens, Dewsbury – 7 years 4 months.
- Ben Hardy, 31, of Riley Lane, Halifax – 12 months.
- Carl Noble, 35, of Mount Pellon Road, Halifax – 7 years 6 months.
Operation Globemouth Smashes Drug Gang
The crackdown, dubbed Operation Globemouth, was sparked by intelligence from Operation Venetic – a sweeping European probe into criminals using the encrypted EncroChat platform. This secret chat service was a key tool for organised crime groups trafficking Class A and B drugs, firearms, and laundering money.
West Yorkshire Police’s Programme Precision team launched the investigation in March 2020. They uncovered a Calderdale-based organised crime gang (OCG) moving around 100 kilos of cocaine, heroin, and cannabis worth millions.
High-Tech Hides and Huge Hauls
Officers seized 10 kilos of drugs during three arrest phases between December 2020 and June 2021. The gang used cunning hydraulic-operated compartments in vehicles to hide and transport both drugs and cash across the country.
The overwhelming evidence, including intercepted EncroChat messages, led all five defendants to plead guilty to drug supply and conspiracy offences.
“Taking Drugs Off Our Streets”
Detective Chief Inspector Jon Key said: “The excellent work by the investigation team in cracking open these encrypted communications led to the seizure of illegal drugs, taking them off the streets of West Yorkshire where they cause significant harm.
“This group supplied huge quantities of drugs over a long period, damaging lives and communities.
“These sentences send a strong message to others involved or thinking of entering the drug trade.
“Dismantling organised crime groups and removing offenders from our streets remains a top priority for West Yorkshire Police.”
