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Gang members jailed for nationwide drugs operation

West Midlands Police Three men in a composite of police mugshots. The man on the left has short dark hair and dark stubble. The man in the middle has short brown hair and a bushy dark beard. The man on the right has short lighter brown hair and light stubble.West Midlands Police
Jonathan Mann (left) was the gang's leader, while brothers Luke (centre) and Alexander Purcell (right) acted as couriers

Six men have been jailed for between three and 16 years for their roles in a national drug-dealing operation.

Police said Jonathan Mann, 31, Luke Purcell, 30, his brother Alexander Purcell, 32, Ryan Prescott, 29, and Ian Lewis, 28 - all from Coventry - as well as Thomas Johnson, 35, from Atherstone, north Warwickshire, moved large amounts of cocaine and other drugs around the country in 2022.

They were investigated as part of Operation Target, a West Midlands Police campaign against organised crime.

Five of the men were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday. One had already been sentenced.

West Midlands Police Three men in a composite of police mugshots. The man on the left has short brown hair and brown stubble. The man in the middle has very short-cropped dark hair and dark stubble. The man on the right has brown hair and is clean-shaven.West Midlands Police
Thomas Johnson (left), bought drugs from the gang to sell on, Ryan Prescott (centre) was the main courier, and Ian Lewis (right) laundered the takings

Police said Mann, the group's ringleader, oversaw distribution, while Prescott and the Purcells acted as couriers.

Officers estimated they were involved in moving more than 100kg of Class A drugs each.

Lewis laundered the money earned from the sale of the drugs, while Johnson was identified as a customer who bought 5kg of cocaine for his own drug supply operation.

West Midlands Police Several rectangular clingfilm-wrapped items. It is hard to tell what is inside them. West Midlands Police
Police seized drugs and cash as part of the investigation

Police said that between April and November 2022, the men made 163 journeys up and down the country, staying in places including Crewe and Bristol before returning to Coventry with drugs and money.

They were arrested that year.

Police saw messages between the men discussing the transport of drugs and money.

A search of Purcell's home also uncovered a blank-firing handgun which had been converted to fire live ammunition.

During the operation, officers seized 21kg of cocaine, 4.9kg of ketamine, 17g of MDMA and more than £450,000 in cash.

West Midlands Police A black handgun lying on its side. A cartridge is at the bottom of the picture.West Midlands Police
A handgun, modified to fire live ammunition, was found in Luke Purcell's home

Prescott and Mann pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to launder money and were jailed for eight years, and 13 years and four months respectively.

For the same offences, as well as having an offensive weapon, Alexander Purcell was sentenced to nine years and seven months.

Luke Purcell was jailed for 13 years and two months for conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs, conspiracy to launder money, production of cannabis and possession of of a firearm and ammunition.

Johnson, who denied the charges against him, was convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs and conspiracy to launder money, and was jailed for 16 years.

Lewis had already been sentenced to three years in January, after pleading guilty to money laundering.

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