Drug boss ‘Machete’ jailed after supplying £1m of cocaine across Yorkshire
A drug dealer who used the name ‘machete’ while employing others to sell cocaine has been jailed for 12 years after supplying an estimated £1m worth of the Class A drug.
Andrew Savage, 33, of Swinton Road in Stockton, employed multiple people to deal cocaine on his behalf.
Police estimate Savage was responsible for supplying 13.7kg of cocaine with a street value of more than £1m.
Detectives from Cleveland Police’s Dedicated Drugs Unit began investigating Savage in February 2026 following the arrest and subsequent charge of another man.
The court heard that the man had been receiving instructions about supplying cocaine from a contact who referred to himself as ‘machete’.
Various enquiries by detectives led them to attribute the ‘machete’ identity to Savage.
Following further investigation and evidence gathering, Savage was arrested at a property in March 2026 with support from Middlesbrough’s Community Action Team.
A search of the address uncovered cocaine with a total street value of £5,000 and £20,000 in cash.
Police also established that Savage had received more than £1.8m in third-party payments over six years while profiting from the supply of cocaine.
Officers said the money had been used on high-end vehicles, expensive flights, hotels and gold.
Savage appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Friday (Sep 4), where he was sentenced to 12 years in prison for being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession of criminal property.
Detective Constable Maloney, from the Dedicated Drugs Unit, said: “Savage operated his criminal network under the radar by using a pseudonym. During this time, he was found to have profited significantly from the supply of cocaine earning more than a million pounds through expensive holidays, cars and jewellery.
“Following the arrest of another individual, a thorough investigation took place to identify who ‘machete’ was and the level he was operating in through the recruitment of drug dealers in Cleveland. This led us to Savage and seizing cocaine and cash within his property.
“The sentence handed to Savage is testament to his criminality and how he exploited others to do his dirty work while he enjoyed the rewards. Thankfully it has all come crashing down on him and he is now spending time behind bars.”