27 years prison sentence for Coventry Drug Gang

Four members of a criminal organisation supplying heroin and crack in the Coventry area have been jailed for a total of 27 years. The four appeared at Coventry Crown Court on 9th June 2006 after pleading guilty to the offences at earlier hearings.

This follows a drugs operation in Coventry in June 2005 when Heroin with a street value of over £1 million was recovered, together with crack cocaine, a loaded firearm and £160,000 cash. The operation was led by the Regional Crime Unit and is linked to Operation Greenbay, the partnership drugs operation in Coventry, which aims to reduce the harm that drugs cause in the city's most vulnerable, drug-affected communities

Lincoln VASSELL, whom the judge described as the organiser of the criminal enterprise, admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs for which he received an 8 year prison sentence on each, to run concurrently. He also received a further 5 year prison term, to run consecutively, in respect of the loaded Handgun, which means that he has to serve 13 years in total.

                                     Lincoln Vassell pictured above

Craig VASSELL, the brother of Lincoln, was described by the judge as being the 'banker'  as he laundered the considerable proceeds of the drugs money through the banking system. He admitted two charges of money laundering and was given a 4 1/2 year prison sentence.

Neville GORDON admitted conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine and was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment.

Steven SEALY, described by the Judge as a 'street dealer'  pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and was given a 3 1/2 year prison sentence.

The £160,000 cash seized during the arrests has been forfeited and the four men now face Confiscation proceedings which will be carried out by the West Midlands RART.

The Regional Crime Unit (RCU) is a cross-regional police task force targeting drugs networks, as well as serious and organised criminals. The unit consists of officers from Warwickshire Police, Staffordshire Police, West Midlands Police and West Mercia Constabulary and forms part of the Regional Task Force (RTF), which also includes the Regional Asset Recovery Team. 

                  Pictured below; the Handgun recovered during the arrest