Eleven men have been jailed for their parts in a Class A drugs conspiracy which operated out of Nottingham.
An investigation, led by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), uncovered a large-scale, organised cocaine supply network, with clear roles for each person – ranging from wholesale suppliers and distributors to couriers, cash collectors and money launderers.
More than ten kilograms of cocaine were seized during the police investigation, alongside multiple kilograms of cannabis and substantial amounts of suspected criminal cash.
The Organised Crime Group (OCG) had also employed professional money launderers to help clean tens of thousands of pounds in profits earned through their criminality.
The gang was made up of some members of the same families, with other people being brought in to assist.
After an extensive and complex operation, investigators were able to link all of the suspects together, showing their roles within the group and the extent of their criminal activities.
Anton Robinson was the group’s principal wholesale cocaine supplier. He sourced and redistributed multi-kilogram quantities to dealers, with his cousin Amarley Robinson-McKenzie holding a trusted and pivotal position alongside him.
Carlton Harrison was found to have supplied multiple kilograms of cocaine to Nyron Linton (also known as Nyron Ricketts), on one occasion delivering five kilos of the drug.
Linton would then supply other dealers – including Courtney McGuire and Connor Litowczuk – for onward supply. Courtney McGuire also sourced supplies from Anton Robinson and Daniel Simpson.
Evidence on phones seized from the group included customer lists, debt records and communications with suppliers and customers.
Linton used his uncle, Nathan Ricketts, as a trusted courier. Ricketts would transport drugs and cash between suppliers and customers, and together, the duo established a stash house where they stored quantities of cocaine in preparation for onward sale to customers.
Four kilos of cocaine found at Connor Litowczuk’s home address and a photograph of cash found on Edward Thomas’ phone
The investigation also showed how some of the group’s criminal profits were being moved.
Edward Thomas travelled around the UK collecting criminal cash under instructions from Jack Marczak. In April 2025, he was stopped with approximately £36,000 in cash shortly after a meeting with Anton Robinson.
Police were able to provide evidence of a separate, sophisticated and nationwide money laundering operation responsible for the movement of more than £20 million in criminal cash.
Fingerprints belonging to Courtney McGuire were discovered on wrapping notes within the cash bundle.
On 14 May 2025, police stopped a vehicle occupied by Courtney McGuire after he had met with Daniel Simpson in Bradford. They recovered one kilo of cocaine from the car and evidence of several previous supplies from an address linked to McGuire.
In July 2026, police raided an address on Cawdron Walk in Nottingham which was linked to Nyron Linton. They found him at the address with five kilos of high-purity cocaine, drug packaging and mixing materials.
Andrew Ricketts, the brother of Nathan Ricketts and uncle of Nyron Linton, was arrested when officers found him forcing entry to Linton’s home address. He was trying to remove evidence, including cash and luxury goods, following Linton’s arrest and was attempting to dispose of £37,000 in cash and designer goods worth just under £20,000.
The arrests didn’t stop there, and in November, Connor Litowczuk, a close criminal associate of Nyron Linton, was arrested. A further four kilos of cocaine were seized from him, along with 17 kg of cannabis, cash and drug-processing equipment.
Evidence of six more kilos of cocaine from previous supplies and discarded packaging was also found.
The investigation then identified a vehicle which Amarley Robinson-McKenzie visited on multiple occasions.
It was recovered and examined and was found to have a purpose-built, sophisticated concealment compartment within the boot. Inside it, investigators found evidence of several kilos of cocaine having previously been stored.
The group was charged with various offences, and many of them pleaded guilty. They appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday (14 October) for sentencing.
Their pleas and sentences are as follows:
– Anton Robinson, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a controlled Class A drug (cocaine) and money laundering. He was jailed for 13 years and six months.
– Connor Litowczuk, 30, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a controlled Class A drug (cocaine) and conspiracy to supply a controlled Class B drug (cannabis). He was jailed for 14 years and six months.
– Daniel Simpson, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a controlled Class A drug (cocaine). He was jailed for 12 years.
– Courtney McGuire, 30, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a controlled Class A drug (cocaine). He was jailed for nine years.
– Nyron Linton, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a controlled Class A drug (cocaine). He was jailed for eight years.
– Amarley Robinson-McKenzie, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a controlled Class A drug (cocaine). He was jailed for seven years and six months.
– Edward Thomas, 55, was found guilty of conspiracy to conceal criminal property. He was jailed for seven years and six months.
– Jack Marczak, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conceal criminal property. He was jailed for six years and nine months.
– Nathan Ricketts, 40, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a controlled Class A drug (cocaine). He was jailed for six years.
– Carlton Harrison, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a controlled Class A drug (cocaine). He was jailed for six years.
– Andrew Ricketts, 54, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a controlled Class A drug (cocaine). He was jailed for six years.
Detective Inspector Beth Lee, who was the Senior Investigating Officer in the case, said:
“This group’s sole intention was to profit from the ongoing distribution and supply of cocaine and use those proceeds to fund lavish lifestyles whilst disregarding the harm that Class A drugs cause within our communities.
“They were profiting from others’ addictions without care for the significant harmful consequences of drug supply and use – violence, exploitation, debt, and poor mental and physical health outcomes.
“They ran a multi-tiered supply network, which was clearly well established over a number of years. Everyone had a role and a responsibility, including the cash couriers who used their expertise in money laundering to assist the OCG in concealing and converting their profits.
“Our investigation delved deep into the long-running, highly organised criminal enterprise the group had set up.
“Some methods used by the group were an obvious and well-informed attempt to frustrate law enforcement tactics, demonstrating the effort put in by the group to keep their highly profitable illegitimate business undetected.
“It required a lot of time, patience, innovation and tenacity to build the strong prosecution case that we achieved against this group. I am extremely grateful to everyone involved in the investigation and enforcement operations against this group for their relentless hard work, determination and trust in what we do.
“Working with Nottinghamshire Police and other partner agencies, we are committed to identifying and disrupting those responsible at the highest levels who facilitate and enable drug supply within our communities, with the aim of reducing the associated harm and devastation caused by this criminality.”
Confiscation work under the Proceeds of Crime Act will now begin to ensure the offenders repay their ill-gotten gains and any assets or profits obtained through their criminal activities are recovered.
