A WINSFORD man has been jailed for being part of an organised crime gang distributing Class A drugs across Cheshire and Merseyside.

The gang followed the orders of drug kingpin Lee Stoba, who was already serving a lengthy prison sentence for drug dealing and managed the group of 21 from his cell in Altcourse ‘like a military operation’.

Anthony Jones, 31, of Kingsley Walk, Winsford, was one of the gang members being instructed by Stoba.

Today, Jones pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, and was sent to jail for four years and eight months.

Jones and Stoba, along with 17 other gang members were sentenced to a total of 92 years in prison thanks to a nine-month undercover investigation by officers from Cheshire Police’s Crime Operations Unit. Two remaining members of the gang are set to be sentenced on December 15.

Following sentencing, Det Insp Giles Pierce said: “These defendants were all members of a highly-sophisticated organised crime gang who were responsible for the large-scale supply of Class A and B drugs in Cheshire and further afield.

“To run their operation, the group used a series of safe houses across the region, some rented in false names, to store huge quantities of drugs destined for dealers lower down the chain in Cheshire and Scotland.

“Their leader, Stoba, truly believed that he was above the law. Despite already being behind bars for drugs offences, he believed that he could still run his criminal operations from within his prison cell.

“However, thanks to the hard work and determination of a dedicated team of officers here at the Cheshire Police’s Crime Operations Unit, Stoba, and the gang he was running, are all now facing the consequences of their actions.”

The operation was initially launched in May 2016 when officers began to investigate a Merseyside-based crime gang who were believed to be responsible for the large-scale supply of Class A and B drugs in Cheshire, Merseyside and Scotland.

On February 28, 2017, after collecting evidence for more than nine months, officers carried out a series of dawn raids at addresses across Merseyside. The warrants led to the arrest of 10 men and one woman on suspicion of drugs offences. Stoba, 44, was also arrested in his prison cell at HMP Alcourse.

Two weeks later, on March 14, officers conducted a second series of drugs warrants – this time focusing on gang members in Cheshire, targeting homes in Warrington, Ellesmere Port, Winsford, Widnes and Runcorn. The warrants led to the arrests of a further nine men and one woman on suspicion of drugs offences.

Stoba, along with four other members of the gang, pleaded not guilty, leading to two trials at Liverpool Crown Court.

During the trials the jury heard how Cheshire Police had gathered extensive evidence against the group after monitoring their movements for over nine months.

The evidence revealed that Stoba had led the group from his prison cell, using mobile phones which had been smuggled into the jail to communicate with his trusted associate, Christopher Campbell, who acted as his right-hand man.

The jurors were presented with mobile phone evidence which showed that Stoba would dictate the orders from behind bars, managing the logistical side of the business. He would arrange for the gang to source the drugs before organising its distribution to a network of drugs dens across the UK.

Meanwhile, Campbell would manage the troops on the ground, working on the front line and doing the work that Stoba was incapable of doing from his cell.

The other members of the gang distributed the drugs and collected all of the cash on behalf of Stoba and Campbell. This would often involve transporting the drugs in multiple vehicles via different addresses in an attempt to minimise their chances of being caught.

DI Giles Pierce said: “The investigation was carried out as part of Operation Impact and it shows the commitment that the force has in targeting those who undermine our communities and bring misery to residents through their involvement in organised crime and illegal drugs.

“I hope that this case sends out a clear message to others that there is no place for illegal drugs in Cheshire.

“While this investigation has now concluded our fight against organised criminals and illegal drugs will continue and I urge anyone with any information about suspected drug related activity in their area to get in touch.”