Six criminals have been handed prison sentences totaling over 60 years at Bolton Crown Court following a large-scale drug import plot. The gang attempted to smuggle class A and B drugs worth more than £1 million into the UK.
During the trial, two defendants made the unusual claim that money transfers to a man in Jamaica were “for goats, not drugs.” The Jamaican contact had previously been deported from the UK. However, police did not accept this explanation.
The case was uncovered after the UK Border Force intercepted 8 kilos of pure cocaine from Jamaica in March 2024. The drugs were intended for distribution across Greater Manchester.
Following arrests in May 2025, police conducted raids in December at homes in Gorton, Didsbury, and Stockport. In Gorton, officers discovered an additional 4 kilos of cocaine, thousands of MDMA and 2CB pills, a kilo of cannabis, and a cash stash of £100,000.
The main individuals involved in the drug plot received the following sentences:
- Darren Bailey, 44, from Stockport, the ringleader, was sentenced to 19 years for multiple drug offences.
- Nathan Charles, 33, based in Gorton, received 17 years.
- Adrian Stephenson, 34, from Bury, was given 9.5 years for conspiring to import class A drugs.
- Panashe Nyamariwata, 27, from Salford, sentenced to 6 years.
- Charlene Bellamy, 41, from Oldham, received 5 years.
- Kamica Morris, 29, based in Manchester, was jailed for 4 years.
Separately, Hannah Conlon, 32, is due to be sentenced next month at Liverpool Crown Court after being caught with over 3 kilos of cannabis imported from America, intended for delivery to her home in Bury.
Police have praised the operation for dismantling this dangerous drug ring and disrupting the supply chain to Greater Manchester.
Originally published by UKNIP.
