A ruthless organised crime group (OCG) created a fake computer business to hide their large-scale cocaine imports. The sham company, Clarke Computers and Software Limited, was more than just a name on paper – they leased premises in Widnes, Cheshire, stocked the unit, and even produced fleece jackets bearing the business name.
Craig Gallagher, 36, the gang’s ringleader and firearms supplier, was arrested following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA). The breakthrough came after the takedown of the encrypted chat platform EncroChat in 2020.
Mike Beigan, NCA operations manager, said: “These men formed a very dangerous and damaging criminal organisation. They brought in industrial volumes of cocaine that have no doubt contributed to further waves of crime and misery in our communities.”
He added, “Craig Gallagher thought nothing of brokering deals to equip serious criminals with deadly weapons, the sort of weapons that have been used with tragic consequences in recent times.”
The gang employed elaborate methods to move drugs and avoid detection. They used a Renault Twingo with a custom-built hide beneath the front passenger seat to transport Class A drugs. During the 2020 lockdown, they evaded police by using a breakdown recovery truck and a window fitting van, complete with cover stories and workwear.
Gallagher planned frequent smuggling runs, hiding up to 100kg of cocaine in computer shipments from their Widnes industrial unit.
Following the investigation, Gallagher was sentenced to 24 years in prison after admitting to importing at least 100kg of cocaine worth £8 million and brokering firearms sales, including assault rifles and machine pistols. Although he was not found in possession of guns personally, he negotiated deals for AK47s, AR-15s, Glocks, and other weapons.
Other gang members also received significant sentences:
- Christopher Van Maren, 41, jailed for 12 years for managing drugs and £1 million in cash.
- Marcus Allen, 29, known as ‘The Geek’, sentenced to eight years for couriering drugs and hundreds of thousands in cash.
- Wesley Campbell, 39, given 12 years for drug supply and money laundering.
- Kevin Boyle, the frontman also known as Maurice Clarke, received 30 months for setting up the fake business and enabling the gang’s activities.
Additional members Carl Pickering, David Jones, and Liam Reynolds are due to be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on 18 September after pleading guilty to offences including supplying cocaine and money laundering. Their attempts to remain undetected included using tradesmen vans and work clothes to disguise cash drops, even during strict lockdown restrictions.
The NCA’s investigation involved analysing 40,000 messages from Gallagher’s EncroChat accounts, which helped trace the gang’s criminal operations. Police from Merseyside and Cheshire supported the 2021 arrests.
This case highlights how criminals exploit technology and lockdown loopholes to flood UK streets with drugs and firearms. Thanks to persistent law enforcement efforts, this gang’s criminal activities have been brought to an end.
Originally published by UKNIP.
