Members of a Nottingham drugs gang used a thermal imaging drone, hidden cameras and vehicle trackers to plan and carry out burglaries targeting rival cannabis farms.
The 11-man organised crime group, led by 24-year-old Mitchell Edge, also operated its own cannabis production and supply network and laundered money.
Ten members of the gang, which operated mainly from Clifton, were jailed for a combined total of more than 60 years at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday 9 October.
The sentences followed an investigation by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU).
Edge was involved in every burglary and recruited other gang members as needed to target cannabis grows in Lenton, St Ann’s, Mapperley, Hucknall and Basford.
The group also targeted addresses as far afield as Reading, Bedford, Doncaster and Leicester.
Detectives identified those responsible by analysing phone data, journeys and financial records.
Investigators discovered that the gang had used a thermal imaging drone to locate rival cannabis farms and positioned hidden cameras to monitor properties and plan break-ins.
Members also attached trackers to rivals’ vehicles and carried out surveillance for weeks before raiding cannabis farms, entering properties while wearing balaclavas.
Edge was identified as the leader of the burglary operation. He also coordinated cannabis production, facilitated wholesale cannabis supply and controlled financial transactions.
An iPhone seized from Edge provided key evidence, including plans, messages, videos of burglaries, updates on cannabis grows, financial records and connections to almost every suspect.
Financial investigations identified unexplained wealth among gang members, several of whom had little or no declared employment despite significant amounts of money passing through their bank accounts.
Eleven men appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Friday 9 October. A full list of their charges, pleas and sentences is below:
- Mitchell Edge, 24, of Green Acre, Edwalton – pleaded guilty on day three of trial to conspiracy to burgle, two counts of conspiracy to supply a controlled Class B drug (Cannabis), three counts of conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis). He was jailed for eleven years, three months.
- Brad-leigh Cairns, 30, of Highwray Grove, Nottingham – pleaded guilty on day three of trial to conspiracy to burgle, conspiracy to supply a controlled Class B drug (Cannabis), and conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis). He was jailed for nine years.
- Sol Sharpe, 24, of Highbank Drive, Nottingham – pleaded guilty on day three of trial to conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to supply a controlled Class B drug (Cannabis). He was also sentenced for a previous offence of conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal. He was jailed for five years, four months.
- Leo Beales, 23, of HMP Whatton – pleaded guilty on day three of trial to conspiracy to burgle. He was also sentenced for a previous offence of conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal, and was jailed for five years, four months.
- Christopher Junior Cope, 25, of London Road, Leicester – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle, and was jailed for four years, nine months.
- Cory Rhodes, 30, of HMP Nottingham – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle. He was also sentenced for a previous offence of conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal and domestic violence, and was jailed for eight years, eight months.
- Liam Kennerdale, 41, of HMP Nottingham – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to supply a controlled Class B drug (Cannabis). He was jailed for three years, six months.
- Saimir Chysa, 32, of Bexwell Close, Nottingham – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis), and conspiracy to supply a Class B drug (Cannabis). He was jailed for three years, six months.
- Mirjan Koxhaj, 37, of Belconnen Road, Nottingham – pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis), and conspiracy to supply a Class B drug (Cannabis). He was jailed for four years.
- Thanh Van Ngo, 31, of Serlby Rise, Nottingham – found guilty of conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis), and possession of criminal property (namely money in a bank account). He was jailed for five years.
- Benjamin Slodczyk, 36, of Waterdown Road, Nottingham – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis) and was jailed for 18 months (suspended for two years).
Officers from EMSOU also applied for an order for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and paraphernalia which was seized. This was granted by the court as part of sentencing.
The team will now start confiscation work under the Proceeds of Crime Act, to ensure the offenders repay their ill-gotten gains, and any assets or profits obtained through their criminal activities are recovered.
DI Claire Bibby, who was SIO in the investigation said:
“This was a long-running, organised and professional criminal enterprise operating nationally from Nottingham.
“The group were prolific in their offending, and stole cannabis from rival grows, ran their own large-scale cannabis production and distribution network. It was a very sophisticated set up, which had the potential to generate millions of pounds.
“The threat and risk posed by Edge and his associates was significant due to the cannabis grows that they targeted, being owned by rival OCGs. The offenders would raid properties armed with weapons including machetes, knives and baseball bats, creating a high-risk situation and potential for harm should they be confronted.
“Our investigation focused on eliminating that risk, as well as prosecuting the men for their crimes.
“I’m glad the judge has seen the severity of this offending and has jailed the group for as long as he has. Working with Nottinghamshire Police, we will stop at nothing to dismantle these OCGs.”
