Portsmouth Crown Court Sentencing Results

David Brennan, 53, of Merthyr Avenue in Portsmouth, was a courier instructed to collect multiple kilograms of cocaine from London for transportation to Portsmouth for sale, and collected cash passed to supplier. Part of Operation Graffiti investigating cocaine supply between February 11 and July 17, 2020.

Anthony Kelleher, 55, of Fourth Avenue in Cosham, was a trusted member storing large amounts of cash and multi-kilo cocaine at his home. He collected and distributed large amounts of cocaine, made multiple trips to London to collect cocaine and transport over £200,000 cash, and delivered cocaine to Isaac Wyatt in Weston-Super-Mare. Part of Operation Graffiti investigating cocaine supply between February 11 and July 17, 2020.

Isaac Wyatt, 37, of Hafner Green, Weston-Super-Mare, received cocaine deliveries including from courier Anthony Kelleher. Part of multi-million pound cocaine conspiracy spanning Portsmouth, Southampton and Weston, investigated under Operation Graffiti between February 11 and July 17, 2020.

Peter Morrison, 39, of Bromyard Crescent in Portsmouth, was involved in the collection and distribution of cocaine, and the collection, counting and onward passage of cash obtained in the sale of the cocaine. He acted as a conduit for certain customers, including primary conduit for Ryan Lafferty, a courier who made trips to London, Weston-Super-Mare and Kent for drugs. Part of Operation Graffiti investigating cocaine supply between February 11 and July 17, 2020.

Ricky Lane, 37, of Blackcap Close, Rowland’s Castle, assisted in onward movement of cash from cocaine sales, purchased cocaine in kilo weights and ounces for sale, and was involved in commercial scale cannabis cultivation. On June 3, 2020, received £300,000 cash from Kelleher stored at Marcel Binns' address; arrested shortly after with £170,000 cash, hydroponics and amphetamine oil at home. Part of Operation Graffiti investigating cocaine supply between February 11 and July 17, 2020.

Ryan Lafferty, 43, of North Street in Portsmouth, was a courier making trips to London, Weston-Super-Mare and Kent for collection or distribution of drugs. On July 13, 2020, arrested in Hampshire returning from Slough with 10 kilos of cocaine. Part of Operation Graffiti investigating cocaine supply between February 11 and July 17, 2020.

Grant Canavan, 38, of Sparsholt Road, Southampton, was involved in the Portsmouth-based OCG supplying large quantities of cocaine, amphetamine, ketamine and cannabis across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight between April 2019 and June 2021. After his brother Dean's arrest, he instructed and directed Saul Francis and John Oliver to collect, accept delivery, supply, store and adulterate controlled drugs at his rented flat on London Road in Portsmouth. On 18 June 2021, police seized items consistent with drug adulteration and packaging, including nearly four kilograms of amphetamine, and arrested him at Sparsholt Road with £21,037 cash, a deal list documenting £250,000 debts.

Dean Canavan, 45, of Serpentine Road, Waterlooville, led a Portsmouth-based Organised Crime Group (OCG) responsible for supplying at least 60 kilograms of cocaine, 90 kilograms of amphetamine, 7 kilograms of ketamine and 7 kilograms of cannabis across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight between April 2019 and June 2021. Between March and June 2020, he used EncroChat to arrange the supply of at least five kilograms of cocaine and five kilograms of ketamine in exchange for large sums of cash. Messages referenced him owning 50 litres of amphetamine oil. He managed the handling of physical drugs via his brother Grant, Saul Francis and John Oliver, and arranged meetings with Aron Pucci to exchange large amounts of cash. Arrested on 1 July 2020 following seizure of £56,590 cash, and again on 23 June 2021.

Aron Pucci, 34, of Highdown Lane, Sutton in Surrey, was involved in the Portsmouth-based OCG by meeting Dean Canavan to exchange large amounts of cash as payment for drugs, as part of the supply of cocaine, amphetamine, ketamine and cannabis across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight between April 2019 and June 2021.

John Oliver, 36, of St. Faith’s Road, Portsmouth, was involved in the Portsmouth-based OCG supplying cocaine, amphetamine, ketamine and cannabis across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight between April 2019 and June 2021. He handled physical drugs under direction from Grant Canavan, including collection, delivery and supply. Arrested on 18 June 2021 in possession of two kilograms of cocaine and four and a half kilograms of cannabis in a backpack, with a further two kilograms of ketamine, cutting agents and a mixing paddle at his home.

Saul Francis, 37, of Copner Road, Portsmouth, was involved in the Portsmouth-based OCG supplying at least 60 kilograms of cocaine, 90 kilograms of amphetamine, 7 kilograms of ketamine and 7 kilograms of cannabis across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight between April 2019 and June 2021. He handled physical drugs under direction from Grant Canavan, including collection, delivery and supply.

On Saturday 23 April 2024, at approximately 12.25am, officers stopped a vehicle driven erratically and speeding along Eastern Road. A search of Daniel Prenga and the vehicle under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 located Class A drugs, £195 in cash, and a number of mobile phones. A subsequent search of a connected address under Section 18 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act revealed a significant quantity of Class A drugs, two mobile phones, seven sim cards, £2580 in cash, and drugs paraphernalia. Prenga was charged on Sunday 24 April.

Arnaldo Katalay participated in a courier fraud scheme that targeted two elderly women. In May 2023, an 88-year-old woman from Hertfordshire was deceived by scammers posing as police officers, leading her to hand over her bank cards, which were later used for unauthorised transactions totalling £1,500. In August 2023, an 89-year-old woman from Portsmouth was tricked into withdrawing £3,500 and handing it over to a courier, with Katalay involved in collecting the money and bank cards.

On Monday, 4 October, an off-duty police officer witnessed a suspected drugs deal taking place between two men in Percy Road, Southsea. Elliott Bonney entered an address in the same road, later left and got into the rear of a taxi on Fratton Road where he was arrested while trying to dismantle a Nokia phone. The phone was seized and found to hold a drug line used to send marketing messages advertising the sale of Class A drugs. Analysis confirmed drugs found were cocaine and heroin.

In March, undercover police officers in Portsmouth observed suspicious activity at York Place and followed two men to Centurion House on Cross Street. Both were arrested and searched, and a linked property was searched, uncovering heroin and crack cocaine valued at £7,590 and £2,239 in cash. Baldacchino later admitted possession with intent to supply the drugs and possession of criminal property.

Gavin Griffiths was part of a drugs network operating between Croydon and Havant and Waterlooville known as ‘God’, active since November 2018. On 12 May 2020, warrants were executed at his home address in Derwent Road, Greater London.

On 6 September, officers searched an address and a vehicle on Waverley Road, seizing a quantity of heroin, cocaine and Xanax. Daniel Thornton, 38, of Waverley Road, was arrested.

Adrian Thompson, 35, of Little Dimocks, Balham, was identified as the main line holder for County Line ‘T’, facilitating the supply of heroin and crack cocaine in Portsmouth. On 15 December 2021, ANPR data tracked his vehicle from London to Portsmouth; officers stopped it upon entry to the city, arresting Thompson and another occupant. Five phones were found, including the ‘T’ line SIM card, 126 individual wraps of cocaine valued between £2,560 and £3,200, and two small packages of cannabis. A search of his home address revealed a large quantity of cash, drug paraphernalia and plastic bags containing razor blades. The investigation was part of Operation Orochi by Hampshire Constabulary and Metropolitan Police.

Billy Fitzearle was involved in a Gosport-based drug gang that supplied heroin and cocaine across South East Hampshire. Police investigations under the Fortress campaign uncovered Class A drugs worth over £150,000, along with cash, cutting agents, and mobile phone evidence of drug dealing dating back to October 2015. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court.