Moment net closed in on gang of 16 men who thought they had it all worked out

Ellesmere Port: A group of 16 men just got hit with a combined sentence of over 80 years for their role in a big cannabis supply operation. They thought they had it all figured out, but the law caught up with them.

The gang was running their operation in Ellesmere Port and Chester, and they were pretty busy between January 13 and January 15, 2025, when they faced the music at Chester Crown Court. Each member had a part to play, and it didn’t end well for any of them.

The police, through Operation Heracles, dug deep into their activities from April 2023 to March 2024. They found out that this crew was getting their cannabis in bulk, mostly from Manchester and Liverpool. Once they had it, they stored it, prepped it for sale, and then distributed it to other dealers.

Some of the guys, like Kyle Phillips and Joshua Burns, were seen as the ringleaders. They were the ones making deals and moving the product around. Others, like Ryan Neild and Daniel Neild, were trusted members who helped with storage and distribution.

The police even found a stash of cash and cannabis at a business park in Ellesmere Port. They seized nearly £11,000 in cash and cannabis worth up to £59,000 during their raids. It was a big operation, and they were clearly in it for the money.

When the police launched a massive operation on March 6, 2024, they had over 250 officers involved. They targeted various addresses linked to the gang, leading to the arrest of 13 members. More drugs and cash were seized, bringing the total cash seized to over £29,552 and cannabis worth nearly £98,000.

Most of the gang members pleaded guilty, but one, Gary Tushingham, tried to fight it in court and lost. After the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Nick Henderson expressed relief at the outcome, emphasizing that these men were living off illegal activities and now face serious consequences.

He made it clear that Cheshire Police are serious about tackling organized crime and drug offenses. This case should serve as a warning to anyone thinking they can get away with similar activities in the area.