The 'industrial level' crime plot sourced from Manchester that has come crashing down

Sixteen men have been handed a combined sentence of over 80 years in jail after their crime gang was ripped apart by police.

Cheshire Police said the men ran a drug supply network which "operated at an industrial level" - sourcing kilos of cannabis predominately from the Manchester and Liverpool areas. The drugs were then distributed in Ellesmere Port and Chester between April 12, 2023, and March 7, 2024.

The force said once the cannabis was obtained, it was stored, prepared for onward sale, and later distributed to middle-market suppliers, who in turn supplied the drugs to others. An investigation into the drugs ring was carried out by Cheshire Police's Serious and Organised Crime Unit as part of Operation Heracles.

Cheshire Police said the investigation found significant quantities of cannabis and cash was being stored in multiple storage units at Indigo Business Park, Ellesmere Port, with members of drug gang visiting the location almost daily, as a base for their operation.

Police raids on units in the business park on November 12, 2023, uncovered almost £11,000 in cash and up resulted in the seizure of cannabis worth up to £59,000 the force said. This resulted in further warrants being carried out on March 6, 2024, involving more than 250 officers from Cheshire police targeting addresses linked to the gang across Ellesmere Port and Chester.

Out of the 16 members of the gang, all of whom were technically unemployed, police said 13 were arrested and charged with more drugs and cash seized, bringing the total amount of cash seized in the investigation to more than £29,552. The total amount of cannabis seized was worth up to almost £98,000.

Between Monday January 13 and Wednesday January 15 2025, the 16 individuals