Drug ring smashed as dealers jailed for 50 years

Serious Organised Crime Unit police officers “dismantled” the group and helped bring them to justice after building up evidence through a lengthy investigation.

Leon Dhers was shown to be the head of the group with Fidel Morton controlling the storage and distribution of drugs on his behalf.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “We hope the significant sentences those involved have received will help to reassure the public and send a clear message to others who think they can get away with dealing drugs without having to face the consequences.”

The gang was caught after police stopped an Audi A3 on the M62 near Manchester and found white powder and cannabis,

A forensic examination of the white powder showed it to be 1.02kg of Phenacetin, which is not a controlled drug but is used in the adulteration of cocaine and in the process of making crack cocaine.

In May 28 last year, officers from the Serious Organised Crime Unit conducted a surveillance operation in Leeds and Bradford which led to a Seat Leon being stopped on Stanningley bypass.

The driver Luke Osler, 28, of Rookwood Mount, Leeds, and packages sealed in plastic were found which was later found to be heroin.

Shortly after Osler’s arrest, officers executed a search warrant at Rachelle Richards’ address in Shafton View, Leeds. Richards was arrested and the house was searched where drugs, a revolver and ammunition were found.

When Osler was interviewed he said he had built up a cannabis debt and had been directed to various locations in Leeds and Bradford to drop off packages.

A forensic examination of the two packages from Osler’s car found them to contain 988g and 994g of heroin at 66 per cent purity.

The main offenders were charged with conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine between February 25 and July 2 last year. Twelve people were convicted of various drug offences and were given terms ranging from a nine-month suspended sentence to 12 years and one month in prison.

The main offenders including Dhers were convicted of conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine between February 25 and July 2 last year. Dhers, 35, of Commercial Street, Morley was jailed for eight years and one month in prison.

Also jailed for the same offences were Fidel Morton, 31, Lovell Park Mews, Leeds, was sentenced to 12 years and one month; Ashley Donovan Graham, 34, of Ilkeston, Derbyshire who received six years; Anthony Carl Haynes, 25, of Gipton Square, Leeds, who was jailed for four years; and Rachelle Richards, 25, of Shafton View, Leeds, also convicted of firearm offences, received three years in prison.

Three men were jailed for a £400,000 drugs conspiracy involving the supply of heroin and crack cocaine throughout Leeds.