Drugs gang who flooded East Lancashire with cocaine and cannabis jailed for almost 80 years
A drugs gang that flooded East Lancashire with cocaine and cannabis has been jailed for a combined total of almost 80 years following a major police investigation.
19 people were charged as part of Lancashire Police’s Operation Vinci, which targeted an organised crime group led by James Kiely and Frankie Taylor.
The investigation focused on a conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs between December 2020 and July 2024.
Officers carried out a series of raids on July 3 last year, arresting ringleader Kiely along with several other members of the network.
Key members of the gang were handed lengthy prison sentences at Burnley Crown Court last week.
James Kiely, 30, of Acre View, Bacup, was jailed for 15 years and three months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, with a concurrent four years and nine months for conspiracy to supply Class B.
His lieutenant Frankie Taylor, 32, of Booth Crescent, Waterfoot, was jailed for 11 years and nine months for conspiracy to supply Class A, with four years and 10 months concurrent for Class B.
Other sentences included:
- Daryl Kiely, 37, of Hammerton Green, Bacup - five years and seven months for conspiracy to supply Class B
- Adam Herba Whinfield, 30, of Blackthorn Lane, Bacup - nine years and eight months for conspiracy to supply Class A and B
- Dylan Traynor-Lomax, 29, of Staghills Road, Rossendale - three years and 10 months for conspiracy to supply Class A and B
- Jamie Hackett, 39, of Primrose Street, Bacup - six years and eight months for conspiracy to supply Class A and B
- Stephen Farran, 38, of Millstream Close, Bacup - seven years and seven months for conspiracy to supply Class A
- James West, 30, of Hammerton Green, Bacup - six years and eight months for conspiracy to supply Class A and B
- Jack Murray, 30, of Bacup Road, Rossendale - five years for being concerned in the supply of Class A and B
- Anthony McKenna, 38, of Hillside Road, Haslingden - seven years and two months for conspiracy to supply Class A cocaine
- Jamie Hunton, 41, of Greave Fold, Bacup - four years for conspiracy to supply Class B cannabis
- Gary Herbert, 39, of St James Close, Haslingden - 37 months for conspiracy to supply Class A
Other members of the group received community sentences.
A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “While these sentences come at the end of a specific investigation, we want to be clear that this type of work is ongoing and our officers are on the streets 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
Operation Warrior is the force’s long-running response to organised criminality across the county, backed by Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw.
Anyone with information about drug dealing or other crime can report it online or by calling 101.
Information can also be passed anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.