Drugs gang jailed over £4.5m cocaine haul

Cy Suddick, Oliver Duncan and Kevin Robinson were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court

Three men have been jailed for their role in a multimillion-pound drugs operation in North Yorkshire.

Police uncovered more than £4.5m of cocaine at an address in Easingwold and in a campervan being driven on the A1(M) close to Scotch Corner on 30 November.

Two men, Cy Suddick and Oliver Duncan, were arrested at the property on Henfield Way, with the driver of the campervan, Kevin Robinson, detained later the same day.

All three appeared at Leeds Crown Court on Friday, after admitting possession of cocaine with intent to supply and conspiracy to supply cocaine.

The court heard a warrant had been executed at the Easingwold address, where a sophisticated cocaine production facility was uncovered.

A large amount of the drug was also found, with an estimated street value of £2.5m.

Later in the day, a Vauxhall Vivaro campervan was stopped and a search found 21kg of cocaine, worth £2.1m, hidden in the back.

Suddick, 32, of Henfield Way, Easingwold, was jailed for 12 years, Duncan, 21, of Beechburn Crescent, Liverpool, was jailed for five years and 11 months, and Robinson, 50, of Shalcombe Close, Halewood, Liverpool, was jailed for 10 years and two months.

A sophisticated cocaine production facility was found at an Easingwold address

Speaking after the sentencing, Det Con Clive Newman said: "This organised crime group was running a multimillion-pound Class A drugs production and supply operation from a quiet residential area in North Yorkshire.

"Clearly, they thought they were not going to be detected, but their confidence was misplaced, and our investigation proves how relentlessly determined we are to dismantle drugs operations of this kind.

"I'm pleased that the court has handed down sentences that reflect the severity of their criminality and want to thank North Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Police colleagues for their assistance in apprehending these three men."

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