A drug dealer was arrested in his underpants as police carried out coordinated warrants, while an associate flooded a bathroom trying to flush drugs worth around £10,000 down a toilet.
Andre McGowan climbed out of a first-floor window in only his boxer shorts as officers executed warrants in February 2023, including at his flat in Belconnen Road, Bestwood in Nottingham.
Officers spotted him running away barefoot and detained him moments later along a nearby footpath. He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on 30 March to 12 years in prison for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, namely crack cocaine and heroin.
He was sentenced alongside associate Shabezz Wheeler-Spink, who was arrested the same morning during a simultaneous warrant at a property in Norton Street, Radford.
The court heard Wheeler-Spink attempted to dispose of evidence as officers forced entry, trying to flush two plastic bags containing 104g of heroin down an upstairs toilet. The bags failed to clear and caused the bathroom to flood.
Wheeler-Spink’s involvement in the operation lasted around six months, while McGowan had been running it for approximately six years. Wheeler-Spink, of Fenton Road, Basford, Nottingham, was jailed for three years.
The investigation was carried out by Nottinghamshire Police under Operation Charlottetown, targeting the supply of heroin and crack cocaine in Nottingham.
Both men pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. Wheeler-Spink also admitted possession with intent to supply cannabis.
The court heard the case began after intelligence identified an established drugs line, known as the “Vic Line”, operating across the Nottingham area.
Detectives found the line was run primarily by McGowan, with Wheeler-Spink delivering drugs to customers on his behalf. When McGowan travelled abroad, including to Dubai and Turkey, Wheeler-Spink took temporary control of the operation.
Officers recovered the “Vic Line” handset during a search of McGowan’s flat. Analysis showed bulk messages, including a “Morning!” text sent to multiple contacts to indicate drugs were available for sale.
On one occasion, 70 such messages were sent within 10 minutes. Customers were located in areas including Woodthorpe, Bulwell and Forest Fields.
A separate phone contained a video appearing to show large quantities of cocaine and heroin.
During the search, officers also seized significant amounts of drugs and cash, along with a metal press used to prepare substances for sale. A bag of drugs thrown into a garden as McGowan fled was later recovered and found to contain heroin and crack cocaine with an estimated street value of up to £35,000.
Police also seized £28,186 in cryptocurrency and banked assets linked to McGowan.
At the Radford address, officers recovered the heroin Wheeler-Spink attempted to flush, along with two lock knives, a dagger and a sheathed knife. Cocaine and cannabis worth almost £12,000 were also seized.
Following sentencing, investigating officer Liz Scott said both men had been brought to justice after a detailed investigation into drug supply in the city.
