Five people have been sentenced over a drugs network led by a Mansfield man, with police estimating that drugs transported around the country could have had a street value of up to £147 million.
Samuel Newton, 41, of Bryony Way, Mansfield, collected and stored drugs for onward supply, including consignments imported from abroad concealed in frozen chicken.
The former British Army bomb disposal soldier was jailed for 14 years at Nottingham Crown Court on 5 March after admitting conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs and conspiracy to possess criminal property.
Four co-defendants were sentenced at the same court on Thursday 5 November.
The investigation began after Newton’s Ford Transit van broke down on the M62 in December 2021. Merseyside Police attended and found 8kg of cocaine and 5kg of ketamine inside.
Newton failed a roadside drugs test and was taken into custody. A subsequent search of his Mansfield home uncovered 38kg of heroin in his garage, with an estimated street value of £3.8 million, and £3,315 in banknotes hidden in a wall cupboard.
The drugs seized from his van and home had a combined estimated street value of up to £4.76 million.
Nottinghamshire Police launched Operation Affinity following his arrest to establish the extent of the network.
Detectives identified more than 369 journeys around the UK which they said were indicative of drug and cash runs. These included trips to Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Leeds, Newcastle, London and Southend.
Investigators assessed that at least 184 of the journeys involved transporting drugs. From those trips, they calculated that the group had moved an estimated 1,472kg of drugs, with a potential street value of up to £147 million.
That figure relates to the estimated scale of the network’s activities, rather than the value of drugs physically seized.
Messages examined by detectives suggested Newton regularly received drugs concealed in frozen chicken and sometimes disposed of the meat himself.
Bank records also showed money moving between members of the group, with references such as “Grandad loan” used to disguise the transfers. Newton used a false name when booking into hotels.
The court heard that Newton joined the Army aged 16 and later worked as a tradesperson. He became involved in drug dealing after a business venture collapsed.
His partner, Abi Holbrook, 32, of Samuel Unwins Court, Sutton-in-Ashfield, admitted conspiracy to transfer criminal property.
She deposited large sums of cash into their bank account, paid for hire vans used to transport drugs and covered couriers’ petrol costs. She also spent money on designer clothes, handbags and holidays.
Holbrook received a prison sentence of two years and six months, suspended for three years.
Her father, Gavin Holbrook, 57, of Birkland Avenue, Mansfield Woodhouse, was jailed for five years after admitting conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs.
He helped Newton count cash and take stock of drugs, transported drugs and money around the country, and stored drugs at his home. He also disposed of chicken products used to conceal consignments.
Amiel King, 30, of Bearwood Road, Smethwick, Sandwell, was jailed for five years and one month after admitting conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs, namely diamorphine, cocaine and ketamine.
King, also an Army veteran, was a student and doorman at the time. He transported large quantities of Class A drugs and cash and helped store and take stock of drugs kept at his home.
George Marshman, 33, of The Fairways, Clifton, Ashbourne, was jailed for five years and 11 months after admitting the same conspiracy charge involving diamorphine, cocaine and ketamine.
A friend of Newton’s, Marshman was initially recruited to help fit concealed compartments in vans so criminal gangs could transport drugs and cash.
He went on to store large quantities of drugs at his home and supply multi-kilogram quantities of Class A drugs around the country.
