Cumbria: Nine on trial in 'truly massive' drug supply plot

Carlisle Crown Court heard the investigation began after multiple 1kg shipments of cocaine were discovered

Nine men were involved in a "truly massive" multimillion-pound cocaine supply plot, a jury has heard.

Carlisle Crown Court was told on Monday that multiple 1kg (2.2lb) consignments of the drug had been trafficked into Cumbria and stored in a lock-up.

The jury was told the cocaine was then distributed by criminal couriers across the British mainland.

The opening of the case is due to conclude on Tuesday, then evidence will be presented to the jury.

The jury heard one of the accused, Reece Barnes, 31, of Bowness-on-Windermere, kept the cocaine in a lock-up near his home.

'Massive' quantities

Prosecutor Tim Evans said: "The quantities of drugs in the overall conspiracy in this case are truly massive."

Evidence pointed to two men, Simon Buller, 45, of Atherton, and Andrew Stephens, 41, of Golborne, near Wigan, having moved 232kg (511lbs) between them during an illegal enterprise which ran from 1 March 2022 to 25 May 2023.

Other people had been involved in the movement of a further 70kg (154lbs) or 80kg (176lbs), taking the total amount least the 300kg (661lbs) mark.

A total street value of the haul was said to be in the region of £6m.

A police drug expert estimated the street value of cocaine transported during the overall criminal enterprise being somewhere between £35m and £53m.

'Highly active'

The cocaine had been supplied to Mr Barnes, who stored cocaine in the lock-up ahead of onward supply, with Cain Turner, 32, of no fixed address, involved as a "highly active courier" and Stephen Stockall, 62, of Weaverham, Northwich, a dealer.

Turner, Anthony Warhurst, 58, of Leigh, Thomas Whittaker, 45, of Digmoor, Skelmersdale, and Michael Evans, 36, of no fixed address, all seemed to operate as couriers of the drug in "very significant quantities", said the prosecutor.

A ninth man, Daryll Preston, 36, of Atherton, had acted as a middle man.

All nine, jurors heard, have admitted conspiring to supply the class A controlled drug.

A 10th man, 33-year-old Scott Owen, of Wigan, denies that he played any part in the conspiracy.

The trial continues.