Six members of an organised crime group (OCG) responsible for the industrial-scale production and supply of cannabis in North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire have been sentenced to a combined total of 34 years in prison.
The six men were convicted as part of Operation Executive, an investigation launched by North Yorkshire Police’s Organised Crime Unit (OCU) into the production and supply of cannabis over two years.
In addition to these six, five other men and two women were also sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy.
All thirteen appeared at Leeds Crown Court for sentencing over two days (Friday 24 May and Monday 3 June), having previously either been found guilty or pleaded guilty of numerous offences.
The court heard that our investigation began after a man was arrested on 21 June 2017 in possession of several items believed to be used in the production of cannabis.
Following the man’s arrest, ringleader Alan Barker came forward to claim ownership of the items and was subsequently arrested.
Searches conducted at Alan Barker’s home address in Long Drax, and business premises Selby Hydroponics, situated near the village of Carlton, North Yorkshire, lead to the seizure of various items including a small quantity of cannabis and amphetamine, a marijuana grower’s book, six mobile phones, two shotguns, and an invoice for £1,155 listing items used in the cultivation of cannabis plants.
Although Alan Barker initially refused to provide the pin code for one of the mobile phones, detectives were eventually able to access it. The phone contained clear evidence of Barker’s involvement in cannabis production and shows that he had been in contact with conspirators as far back as May 2017.
Additionally, a ‘debt’ list created on 12 September 2015, and last updated on 24 September 2017. was recovered from the handset containing several names linked to what was eventually uncovered to be the OCG.
Operation Executive was subsequently launched to identify and subsequently dismantle the OCG.
Throughout the operation, our teams gathered intelligence that led to the identification of other defendants, many of whom maintained frequent communication, were observed together in person, or travelling in convoy, and made regular visits to the production sites. Intelligence also revealed that certain gang members visited Selby Hydroponics between visits to the production sites.
The production sites were discovered after warrants were executed, revealing cannabis grows at five residential properties on Nab Lane, Fieldhead Road and Holly View Farm in Birstall, Westfield Terrace in Halifax, and Northfield Road in Dewsbury – all in West Yorkshire.
The electricity had been bypassed in some of the properties and sophisticated hydroponics and watering systems had been set up.
During another search of the buildings and land at Selby Hydroponics, officers discovered 166 cannabis plants with root balls, 65 root balls without plants, cannabis mulch, cannabis cuttings, vacuum bags and bin liners that had been recently buried.
A warrant was also executed at Alan Barker’s new business venture, Selby Plant Hire, resulting in the seizure of several items, including twenty 12-gauge short shotgun blanks, a set of digital scales, and a Digital Wideband Radio Frequency Detector and GSM 3G Detector capable of detecting signals emitted by tracking devices.
Following the seizure of the multiple cannabis cultivations, Steven Annis attended Selby Plant Hire for a meeting with Alan Barker and another man, where he had his vehicle inspected for audio and tracking devices.
Surveillance, forensics, and mobile phone data were utilised to prove the involvement of gang members in some or all the cannabis grows and their connections within the OCG, despite some pleading their innocence and claiming not to know each other.
Samples taken from cigarette butts and drinks bottles linked Steven Annis, John Annis, and James Dalton to Westfield Terrace in Halifax. Fingerprints were also used establish connections between some gang members and some of the cultivation sites.
A set of keys seized from Steven Annis’ home address on 9 November matched the locks of the properties on Nab Lane and Westfield Terrace.
Four other defendants were found not guilty as part of the same conspiracy during the three trials.