Darwen and Accrington gang members jailed for role in drug ring

The final five members of the group appeared in front of a judge yesterday, bringing the combined prison sentences for all members of the gang to 90 years.

Detectives launched Operation Florence last year following concerns from residents in Darwen about drug use by children and that youngsters were being exploited to sell drugs after getting into debts.

The gang’s head Usman Akhter controlled a sophisticated network bringing hundreds of kilos of cocaine and cannabis into the region.

The gang ued the façade of car sales business – Burnley-based Elite and Prestige run by Akhter’s girlfriend Jessica Humphreys – to provide vehicles for criminal activity, including moving drugs around and to explain large deposits of cash.

Trusted members of the gang also used encrypted mobile phones known as EncroChat phones which they wrongly believed would mask their conversations from the police.

The phones, which cost around £1,500 for 6 months’ service, give the user a unique ‘handle’ which can only communicate with other handles by mutual consent.

In addition to encrypted communications, the handsets are programmed with functions designed to minimise the risk of the devices ever being accessed or downloaded, if seized. Text messages are automatically deleted from the handsets, and devices can be remotely wiped.

As part of the investigation warrants were executed at 25 addresses – including properties in Darwen, Blackburn and Northwich in Cheshire – in May and June and a large quantity of suspected cocaine and cannabis was recovered. Officers also seized vehicles and weapons.

Besides Akhter, other main players included Shaheed Virmani from Manchester who supplied to and received from Akhter large amounts of cannabis and cocaine and Marbella-based Liam Martyn who was involved in the supply of drugs from Spain to the UK. Martyn was shot in Marbella in May 2020 and arrested in Plymouth while on the run.

On Tuesday the final five members of the gang were sentenced at Preston Crown Court. They were:

n Craig Hollings, 48, of Sarah Street, Darwen, who was jailed for eight years for conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis

n Scott McKenna, 28, of Hazel Avenue, Darwen who got two years and seven months for supplying cocaine

n George Lodge, 19, of Perry Street, Darwen, who got two years and three months for supplying cocaine

n Augustine McDonagh, 33, of Bobbin Close, Accrington , who got two years and a month for criminal damage and threats to cause damage by fire

n Billy Beeke, 27, of Brandwood Street, Darwen, received a community order for supplying cannabis

Det Insp Martin Melvin said: “This gang thought they could live the high life by exploiting the most vulnerable in society, including children. I am pleased all its members have now been dealt with by the courts and the significant total sentence received reflects the seriousness of their criminal actions.

“Operation Florence was launched directly on the back of concerns raised by the public. I would encourage anyone concerned about criminal activity in their area to contact the police.”

For a full list of all of those involved, visit www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk