Crime gang left stash behind in pub and exposed their huge drug ring

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A gang left behind their stash in a pub and allowed cops to uncover a drug crime ring. The operation involved around 140 packages being sent back up north to Liverpool from Cornwall containing over £500,000 cash, reports the Liverpool Echo.Officers discovered a half kilo of heroin and cutting agent during a string of raids.The criminal enterprise came to an end when coffee jars of drugs were accidentally left behind in a boozer in Cornwall.Devon and Cornwall Police released mugshots of Kevin Condliffe, Richard McLean and Kieron Ellis who are all now serving considerable sentences for their part in the drugs gang.

Condliffe and McLean, from Liverpool, were higher up in the organisation and had organisational roles, whereas Ellis from Cornwall supplied the drugs once they arrived down south, reports the Liverpool Echo.The trio Kieron Ellis, 44, Kevin Condliffe, 46, and Richard McLean, 39, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentencing after admitting conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.A fourth, Johnathan Fincham, had his sentencing adjourned to allow for a trial of issue to take place.Condliffe and McLean are both from Liverpool with Ellis from the Penzance area and Fincham from the Helston area.Prosecuting the case, Jason Beal said: "This case concerns a conspiracy to bring heroin and cocaine into Cornwall for onward distribution."Mr Beal described how on September 5 2021, Condliffe and McLean attended the pub and attracted the attention of punters due to their strange behaviour.They left in a taxi and customers found that they left behind the coffee jars with the drugs stashed inside, and called the police to report the find. Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter