Multi-million-pound drugs gang jailed for over 40 years
By Simon Bristow
An organised crime group (OCG) who distributed heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine, and amphetamines across Hull have been jailed for a combined total of more than 40 years.
The group, led by Paul Cahalin, 39, of Falkland Road, east Hull, were convicted at Hull Crown Court of conspiring to sell large amounts of Class A drugs between May 2018 and January 2019.
The court heard how a total of approximately four kilos of heroin, 360 grams of cocaine, 50 grams of crack cocaine, and 24 kilos of amphetamine were seized from the OCG by Humberside Police’s Specialist Serious and Organised Crime Unit.
The total street value of the drugs was estimated to be around £500,000, and a quantity of cash, totalling about £25,000, was also seized during the investigation.
The profit margins of the OCG over the course of the investigation are believed to be “several million pounds”.
LEADER: Paul Cahalin, jailed for 18 years
Cahalin was jailed for 18 years after being convicted by a jury of two offences of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and one of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
Below Cahalin were his trusted deputies, Innocenzo Bonaccorso, 28, of HMP Hull, and and Steven Abbott, 52, of Barham Road, east Hull.
Bonaccorso was jailed for four years and six months after admitting two offences of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and one of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs. His sentence will be served consecutively to one he is already serving.
Abbott was jailed for eight years after admitting conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
Both men were responsible for the transportation, storage, and distribution of the drugs, all under the command of Cahalin. Bonaccorso was also used in a managerial role by Cahalin, and had responsibility for cutting the drugs and the onward supply to wholesale drug dealers.
EVIDENCE: Cash and drugs seized by police
Cahalin employed Abbott, who in turn recruited and worked alongside Max Sands, 25, of Ferriby Road, Scunthorpe. They were responsible for travelling to the North-West of England to collect drugs and transport them back to Hull for distribution.
Sands was jailed for four years after admitting conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
The remaining OCG members were 52-year-old William Burrows, of St John’s Walk, Hessle, and Klaudian Liberko, 25, of Spring Street, west Hull.
Burrows was jailed for seven years after being convicted by a jury of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Liberko received an eight-month sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting two offences of permitting premises to be used for supplying Class A drugs, and a guilty plea to a further offence of permitting premises to be used for supplying Class B drugs.
MANAGEMENT ROLE: Innocenzo Bonaccorso, jailed for four years and six months
Burrows played a role as drug dealer, possessing large quantities of drugs, whilst Liberko acted as the storage manager at the safe house.
Another man, acting in the same capacity as Liberko at his property on Victoria Parade, Hull, was convicted in August 2019 for his role in the gang, receiving a custodial sentence of five years.
The OCG used sophisticated telecommunications to obtain wholesale amounts of controlled drugs from Liverpool and Manchester, showing not only the size and scale of the group but also their wider connections to other organised crime networks in the UK.
On Wednesday August 29, 2018, one kilogram of heroin and eight kilograms of amphetamine were seized from Sands’ vehicle on the M62 near Howden. During surveillance, Abbott had been seen to collect the drugs from Liverpool before they were transferred to Sands’ vehicle.
On Friday December 14, 2018, police detained Bonaccorso as he left an address on Victoria Parade, Hull, and found him in possession of a significant quantity of Class A drugs.
TRUSTED DEPUTY: Steven Abbott, jailed for eight years
Officers then raided the address and found a large quantity of Class A and B controlled drugs.
A bedroom on the first floor was being used to prepare and store the drugs. It contained a safe with a large quantity of drugs locked inside, as well as further controlled drugs hidden around the room.
A significant quantity of Class B drugs was found in a freezer in the living room.
As part of the wider investigation, further addresses were searched and approximately £22,000 in cash was recovered.
Humberside Police Detective Chief Inspector Iain Pottage, who led the investigation, said: “Investigations like these can be incredibly lengthy and complex. To ensure our best chance of prosecution and significant sentencing, we need to ensure all lines of investigation are fully explored.
DRUG DEALER: William Burrows, jailed for seven years
“The scale of this organised crime group was significant. The volumes of drugs that they distributed and the methods by which they operated undoubtedly meant that they posed a risk to the public.
“Our investigation has required in-depth digital forensic analysis, due to the number of phones recovered from the individuals, including encrypted devices, as well as large amounts of CCTV analysis. Due to the complexity of the operation, it has also necessitated the use of covert tactics to gather vital evidence.
“We work tirelessly to disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups operating within our area, with a particular focus on those leading the groups and those posing the greatest threat to our communities.
“I am confident that these individuals being jailed will have a significant impact on the drug trade in Hull. However, we will not become complacent in our action to tackle organised drug-related crime.
“We are committed to making sure our area remains an undesirable place for criminals, like these, to operate in.”
COLLECTED DRUGS FROM NORTH-WEST: Max Sands, jailed for four years
Summing up, the judge praised the “excellent and well-planned policing operation”.
“To our communities, I want to say thank you for the information you provide us relating to drug-dealing activity,” Det Chief Insp Pottage said.
“We investigate all information that we receive, so please don’t worry if you don’t see immediate action.
“Sometimes we use what you tell us to build the bigger picture of evidence to have the best possible chance of a positive court outcome, as in this case. Please keep talking to us if you have any information about crime in your area.”