£53m drugs plot with Cumbrian link was 'Amazon-style' operation

A Carlisle Crown Court judge was told about the cocaine conspiracy – the biggest ever prosecuted in Cumbria – which unravelled after one of the criminals involved was caught taking regular one-kilo deliveries of cocaine to a garage in Windermere.

The drug dealing of 31-year-old Reece Barnes triggered a huge investigation that ultimately saw police dismantle a national drug dealing operation which had links to multiple organised crime groups in the UK and abroad.

The conspiracy involved at least 350 kilos of cocaine, with an estimated street value of £53million.  The was sold on to be traded across Cumbria. 

At Carlisle Crown Court today, 31-year-old Barnes was described as a “regional retailer of cocaine,” with officers discovering that he repeatedly took delivery of 1kg consignments of the drug, which he hid in shoeboxes. Police recorded fellow conspirators making 22 trips to Windermere during the 15-month conspiracy.

More high-ranking member of the conspiracy had regular – and at times daily – contact with overseas drug cartel members who were supplying hundreds of kilos of cocaine.

Outlining the offending, prosecutor Tim Evans told Judge Nicholas Barker the conspiracy illustrated “a new style” of drug trading,  highly organised and with an “Amazon-style” structure that allowed high-level importers to cooperate with each other and to then distribute cocaine to regional dealers.

Those more senior criminals acted as drug “brokers,” with the various organised crime groups involved mutually trading cocaine rather than stocks and shares to both other gangs and lower-level retailers such as Barnes.

Large quantities of the Class A drug were being imported to the UK from Dubai via the port at Harwich, often in quantities running into hundreds of kilos.

Other conspirators had links to a separate organised crime group in Portugal, said the prosecutor.

A key part of the investigation – codenamed Matrix, and conducted by the Northwest Regional Crime Unit with support from Cumbrian police officers – related to cocaine that was traded “wholesale” at a price of £30,000 per kilo.

“This was a truly massive conspiracy to supply cocaine and there is a hierarchy,” said Mr Evans. Barnes received drugs on at least eight occasions.

After examining his phones, detectives discovered that it gave them access to a web of drugs contacts, many of them cooperating with each other to operate a countrywide trade in cocaine.

Describing the highly organised nature of the operation, Mr Evans said: “Part of the point here is that Cumbria is not a place in which cocaine originates.

“It almost invariably comes into the country from overseas through ports and Harwich is an example in this case. It then goes to areas in which organised crime groups actively operate and, for present purposes, Merseyside and Greater Manchester.”

Some conspirators – including Simon Buller, 45, Andrew Stephens, 41, Scott Owen, 33, and Daryll Preston, 36 – had set up an “Amazon-style” drugs business in which they acted as cocaine brokers, supplying significant quantities of the drug to dealers who were running their own dealing operations.

Mr Evans said: “This was an interlinked group of people and supply relationships would shift within the conspiracy if a particular conspirator was having difficulties at a particular time. A good example is how Reece Barnes evolved his supply links."

Initially, Barnes was supplied with cocaine by 62-year-old Stephen Stockall “on credit.”

“But on one occasion,” said Mr Evans, “Stephen Stockall had himself run out of drugs to supply and therefore on that one occasion he went up to Windermere to see Reece Barnes and have him supply him back some cocaine – an example of those involved together helping each other out when supply got short.”

Mr Evans went on to outline the roles within the conspiracy of each defendant, beginning with Simon Buller and Andrew Stevens, who sat at the head of the conspiracy.

Simon Buller, 45, from Atherton, Manchester: A criminal associate of Andrew Stephens, he was involved in the importation and delivery of “hundreds of kilos of cocaine across the UK.” He was also an associate of two other conspirators, Owens and Preston.

Phone messages showed he was involved in “organising large scale drug supply” in the Blackpool area in December of 2022. He also made a “customer care” visit to Windermere.

Other messages showed he was given responsibility to collect a drugs importation and to organise onward distribution of the cocaine, which involved organising and controlling couriers.

Mr Evans said: “The Crown would ascribe to Simon Buller and Andrew Stephens the highest role in this investigation given that both operate together and demonstrably share information.

“Dealing with drugs seized and quantities referred to in messaging the Crown say Simon Buller and Andrew Stephens can be reliably estimated as supplying 230kg during the conspiracy period with both controlling the criminal activities of [other members of the conspiracy].

"Both were directing and organising buying and selling on a large commercial scale.” Stephens and Buller also had access to several “safe houses” for the drugs, access to drivers to distribute the cocaine.

Mr Evans continued: “Initially Buller, and later on Stephens, through messaging groups, were speaking directly to high-level international criminal associates.

“Give the quantity of quantity of drugs they were able to supply on an almost daily basis – 73kg in one week – they were necessarily speaking directly to cartel members, or those very closely connected to cartel members in order to have access to that amount of supply.”

Both men were trusted with “hundreds of kilos of cocaine.” Buller is the only one of the 10 convicted conspirators who will not be sentenced this week for legal reasons.

Andrew Stephens, 41, of Eastfield Drive, Goldborne. Along with Buller, he was the UK head an organised crime group that was importing hundreds of kilos of cocaine. One message to an associate suggested  his long term involvement, since it stated: “I never robbed you in all these years.” 

Daryll Preston, of Hamilton Street, Atherton, Manchester: He was involved in drug delivery trips to Windermere, handing over 1kg consignments of cocaine. He and another conspirator were involved with a separate crime group in Portugal.

Scott Owen, of Salisbury Way, Astley, Manchester:  Working with Preston, he was involved in six trips to Windermere and facilitated the supply of 1kg consignments of cocaine to Barnes. He denied wrongdoing but was convicted after a Carlisle Crown Court trial.

Reece Barnes, of Elim Grove, Windermere: He played a leading role in disturbing his 1kg deliveries of cocaine. With no legitimate source of income, he earned his living through his dealing in Cumbria.

Stephen Stockall, 63, of Well Lane, Weaverham, Cheshire. He was the main supplier of cocaine to Reece Barnes. His previous offending history includes a 16-years for importing heroin. As well as his supply in Windermere, he was delivering multiple kilos of cocaine in the Cheshire area. He blamed his involvement on having accrued a drugs debt.

Mr Evans said the remaining defendants were all drivers for the conspiracy.

Thomas Whittaker, 42, of Brierfield, Digmoor Skelmersdale. Working with another “driver”, Michael Evans, his movements were being directed by criminals with Portuguese mobile numbers. He was involved in 38 trips around the UK.

Michael Evans, 36, from Skelmersdale. Police say he remained “highly active” as a courier until his arrest in March last year. Officers believe he transported 57kg of cocaine during the conspiracy. He is known to have made 20 trips.

Caine Turner, 32, from Manchester. He delivered a 1kg package of cocaine to Windermere on Saturday, February 4, taking a £30,000 for the drug. Police believe he had previously delivered 32 kilos of the drug.

Anthony Warhurst, 58, of Knowsley Street, Leigh. He was described as a “trusted courier” who was involved in transporting millions of pounds worth of cocaine and collecting thousands of pounds. He was controlled by Buller and Stephens.

Barristers were this afternoon mitigating for each defendant. All except Scott Owen admitted being a part of the conspiracy.

The case is expected to conclude tomorrow.