Several “major players” in a Bucks drug gang are facing prison after they were convicted of multiple offences.
A total of six men from Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire could be set for lengthy sentences for their involvement in a drug empire supplying huge quantities of illegal substances across the Thames Valley and Wiltshire.
On Wednesday, Mohammed Ali, 50, of Chervil, Milton Keynes and Patrick Gray, 44, of Radford Close in Oxford were both found guilty of conspiring to supply heroin, conspiring to supply cocaine and participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group (OCG) following a trial at Oxford Crown Court.
Richard Gray, 32, of Barley Court, Witney, Lewis Court, aged 36, of Cuddesdon Way, Oxford, Jamie Shepherd-Smith, aged 33, of Brambling Cross, Kingston Bagpuize and William White, aged 35, of no fixed abode, had earlier pleaded guilty to the same offences.
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The OCG was run by brothers Patrick and Richard Gray, and police found that the gang conspired with persons unknown to sell large amounts of drugs between March 31, 2020 and May 26, 2021.
The police investigation, known as Operation Sedate, uncovered 2.8kg of cocaine, 18.3 grams of crack cocaine and more than £158,000 in cash following the execution of warrants in May 2021.
All six men were charged on May 27, 2021.
Investigators were able to infiltrate the gang after cracking Richard Gray’s “Encro handle”. EncroChat is an encrypted communications platform used by criminals up and down the country, which was taken down by officers in Operation Venetic.
After accessing the OCG’s communications, police discovered that the gang had travelled to Lancashire to purchase drugs, which were then returned to Oxfordshire where they were stored at the homes of the gang members and at a rural farm.
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Investigating officer Detective Constable Gavin Toney, of the Serious Organised Crime Unit, said: “As a result of intelligence-led warrants following information received from the NCA, we made a number of arrests into a significant drug supply operation.
“Those convicted brought large quantities of class A drugs into the Thames Valley with the intention of flooding the area with them.
“Following the execution of a series of warrants on 26 May 2021, officers located large quantities of these drugs along with large sums of cash.
“This was a significant investigation and as a result, six members of this OCG have now been convicted and are likely to spend significant spells in prison as a result.
“The supply of drugs in our communities causes untold harm, and tackling this criminality is one of Thames Valley Police’s top priorities.
“We have removed six major players from our communities as a result of this investigation, but we will never tire in bringing dealers, and those who bring drugs into the Thames Valley, to justice.
“Our Stronghold team will proactively and robustly pursue and prosecute offenders, and our activity will be both visible and covert to ensure that the harm brought into our communities by organised crime groups is removed.
“I would like to reassure our communities that we will continue to tackle drug supply and will continue to bring offenders before the courts where they belong.”
The six men will appear again at Oxford Crown Court on 25 March for sentencing.
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