A man from Middleton is amongst five jailed for their part in a multi-million pound drug trafficking ring.
Robert Hallas, aged 45, Throstle Hill, Leeds was arrested in February after an exchange of kilo amounts of adulterants, used in the preparation of Class A drugs. He was sentenced at York Crown Court on 23 November to seven years in jail.
Mark Cross aged 55, Kirby Close, Stockton on Tees, who was arrested with Hallas was jailed for 10 years.
Then on Friday (15 December 2023) Jordan Walker and Neesha Gohil received sentences for their roles in a conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and crack cocaine destined for the streets of Leeds.
The pair are the latest to be jailed as part of an investigation into drugs trafficking which has seen nearly 100 kilos of Class A drugs being seized.
Walker and Gohil were arrested earlier this year after police executed warrants at connected addresses in the Batley and Wakefield areas.
Appearing for sentencing before Leeds Crown Court, Walker, aged 31, of Silver Street, Wakefield, was jailed for 11 years. Gohil, aged 32, of Branwell Avenue, Batley, was jailed for five and a half years.
The charges relate to offences committed in Leeds between 6th November 2022 and 14th March 2023.
A further gang member was jailed in March, as part of the same West Yorkshire Police investigation.
Speaking outside court on Friday, Detective Inspector Dave Watts of West Yorkshire Police’s Programme Precision serious organised crime team said:
“This was a multi-million pound drug trafficking ring with significant influence in the Leeds drug market and connections to a series of firearms discharges in the south Leeds area.
“The overall operation has seen the seizure of 46 kilos of cocaine, 48 kilos of MDMA, 21 kilos of cutting agents and over £160,000 in cash.
“Evidence of a further 32 kilos of cocaine having been supplied was also seized.
“I’m pleased with the sentences handed out today and hope they will serve as a deterrent to people thinking of dealing drugs in our communities.”
“Since the interventions carried out as part of Programme Precision, there has been a significant reduction in the violence and firearms offences linked to this and affiliated Organised Crime Gangs.”
“International enquiries are currently ongoing to trace the principal OCG member who is believed to have fled to Dubai.”
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