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An organised crime group (OCG) from Preston have been jailed after supplying between £200k and £400k worth of Class A drugs.

Eight men and five women were sentenced at Preston Crown Court for offences including conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin.

Of those, nine people received immediate custodial sentences totalling 75 years and eight months.

Det Sgt Richard Clancy, of Preston Target Team, said: "The sentences handed down to the group are the culmination of a long and complex investigation, which established that the gang was responsible for up to 10 kilos of class A drugs flooding the streets of Preston.

First row (Left to right): Anthony Hayes, Jordan Murray, Joshua Wolstenholme
Middle row (L to R): Kasib Hussain, Leon Hayes, Levi Wilson
Bottom row (L ro R): Neil Smith, Nigel Ogden, Samantha Winstanley — First row (Left to right): Anthony Hayes, Jordan Murray, Joshua Wolstenholme Middle row (L to R): Kasib Hussain, Leon Hayes, Levi Wilson Bottom row (L ro R): Neil Smith, Nigel Ogden, Samantha Winstanley

"In addition they exploited vulnerable members of the community, using fear and threats to ensure they did what they were told."

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Operation Zodiac was a year-long investigation into the 'Titch Line' OCG and the supply of class A drugs in the Plungington and Ingol areas.

The group was brought to the attention of the police in 2020 following an increase in drug-related violence in the area.

Throughout 2021, officers carried out several warrants and gathered evidence including large quantities of Class A drugs, cash and mobile phones.

Around 50 mobile phones were examined in total and over a million lines of call data analysed to establish who was involved in the OCG

Detectives subsequently discovered the 'Titch Line' was set up and headed by Jordan Murray - also known as Titch - aged 28, of HMP Lancaster Farms.

Murray gave directions and orders from his cell at the prison using contraband mobile phones.

Levi Wilson, aged 29, of Eversleigh Street, Preston, controlled the group on a day-to-day basis and at street level from early 2020 onwards.

He took control of the group through intimidation and violence, including against rival dealers, police said.

Joshua Wolstenholme, 19, of Ellen Street, Preston, was viewed as Wilson's 'lieutenant' and was tasked with passing on orders and running drugs.

Kasib Hussain, 41, of Burrow Road, Preston, sourced drugs and acted as a courier and as a street dealer, while Gail Martin, 49, of St Thomas' Road, Preston, allowed her house to be used for the supply of the drugs.

The remaining ten people - listed below - were involved as street dealers.

Evidence showed that Wilson used the tactic of 'cuckooing' - taking over the addresses of vulnerable members of the community and then forcing them to deal drugs on his behalf.

The number of addresses the group operated out of, the amount of people working for them and the number of phone numbers they used meant they operated on a 24/7 basis.

"I hope the fact that members of the OCG have now been jailed reassures the communities of Lancashire that we are committed to tackling organised crime on this scale, in turn helping to make their streets safer," Det Sgt Richard Clancy added.

"Drugs are a blight on our communities, bringing nothing but harm, and we will not tolerate their supply anywhere in our county.

"These sentences should also serve as a warning to those who are involved in such criminality: we will continue to dismantle drugs supply networks by bringing those responsible to justice."

The sentences are as follows:

Jordan Murray, 28 of HMP Lancaster Farms pleaded guilty on 17/9/21, and was sentenced on 2/2/22, to 12 years in prison for:

- Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs – Crack Cocaine between 01/10/2020 and 11/06/2021.