Gang jailed for over 29 years for class A drugs conspiracy in Chester

A gang of men who supplied cocaine and crack cocaine in Chester city centre have been jailed for over 29 years.

The six men were part of an Organised Crime Group that used flare messages to advertise the sale of drugs to users.

The six-month operation, carried out by a team of detectives from Chester’s CID Proactive Team, uncovered the criminal enterprise.

The six men were sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday 21 July:

• Daniel Meredith, 36, Stratford Road, Chester, received nine years and four months.
• Ryan Jones, 31, of Auckland Road, Chester, received nine years.
• Joshua Hill, 28, of Conway Court, Ellesmere Port, received three years.
• Reece Morrison, 20, of Graham Road, Chester, received two years and six months.
• William Mead, 19, of Coleridge Close, Chester, received two years and three months.
• Dillon O’Gorman, 27, of Melbourne Road, Chester, received three years and nine months.

Daniel Meredith and Ryan Jones were controllers of the line and would use their network of associates to supply and distribute illegal drugs on their behalf.

Meredith and Jones were responsible for operating the phone that people would contact for drugs. They would then direct their dealers to conduct the supply.

The street dealers, Joshua Hill and Dillon O’Gorman would meet with local users within the Blacon area and provide cocaine.

Reece Morrison and William Mead were regular contacts of Jones and Meredith. They set up their own drug rounds using drugs purchased from Jones and Meredith.

The investigation continued and between 26 October 2022 and 18 November 2022, strikes were conducted in Blacon at addresses on Western Avenue, Fowler Road and Stratford Road.

A large quantity of cocaine along with graft phones, drug paraphernalia and cash were seized during the raids.

Further evidence was recovered such as CCTV, ANPR and DNA linking the gang and indicating their involvement in the supply of illegal class A drugs into Chester.

Detectives also used a range of tactics including the gang’s use of mobile phones to uncover their drugs supply enterprise.

All six were subsequently charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine).

Detective Sergeant Stuart Needham of Chester CID Proactive, said:

"Meredith and Jones thought they could establish a cocaine supply line into the heart of the city, with drugs being openly supplied in the community.

"Little did they know we were hot on their trail, gathering a catalogue of evidence against them so that the defendants had no choice but to enter a guilty plea.

“I would like to thank the officers that worked on this case and helped bring this OCG to justice while helping to remove a large quantity of cocaine that was heading to the streets of Chester.

“Illegal drugs can have a devastating impact on not only drug users, but the community around them.

“In Chester, we are doing all we can to stop drug activity on our streets to make the city a safer place to live and visit while also making it extremely difficult for these gangs to operate.

“We will always act on any information about drug activity provided to us and would urge anyone who believes this activity is happening near to them, to please contact Cheshire Police.”

A county line is operated by an organised crime group who use a mobile phone, known as a ‘line’ or a ‘graft’ to extend their criminal activity business into new locations - usually from a city into rural areas. In some cases, organised crime groups can target and exploit children, vulnerable adults, and disabled people to deliver and deal drugs on their behalf.

To help make Chester a safer place to live spot the signs of county lines drug dealing and report it to Cheshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111.