Drug Gang Leader’s £80000 Claim: Just ‘Ticking Over’ With Millions

Ian Spackman led a big drug operation that was above regular street crime, making millions with ties to a known street gang. During the investigation, police raided a house. Spackman himself said £80,000 profit was just “ticking over.”

Spackman’s gang ran a “sophisticated” network, using fake firms for drug shipments to flood northwest England with drugs worth millions of pounds. The gang enjoyed fancy things, taking trips and buying expensive items with money from addiction.

Spackman had contacts worldwide and bragged about making lots of money fast. He oversaw drug plots in several areas, including Merseyside, Lancashire, and the Isle of Man. He supplied cocaine across northern England and imported cannabis from overseas to an industrial estate in Liverpool.

He avoided street fights but had contacts within the Fernhill gang, which was known for drugs and violence. Spackman’s gang ran the criminal empire until law enforcement eventually caught them.

Spackman supplied gangs, not individual users, with James Gannon and Tom Collins assisting him. They used international contacts to direct cocaine from Liverpool all over, bringing in millions. They hid their activities well, which kept them ahead of the law at first.

The gang created a fake plumbing business, P&M Plumbing, as a front for bringing cannabis from Spain. They rented a space at an industrial estate where vans brought toilets, cat litter, and drugs.

Peter Mulvaney pretended to be the director, wearing a tie to look legitimate. One delivery was 50kg of cannabis, some of which went to the Isle of Man where drugs were worth more. They successfully hid drugs in a van floor.

Stephen McNally prosecuted the case, explaining that the organization spread from Liverpool and supplied drugs across England, including Blackpool and the northeast. They also dealt cannabis, but this was not street-level dealing, as everyone involved was a significant drug dealer handling large amounts and earning large profits.

Police tracked the gang’s drugs and cash, observing where money and drugs went and noting their luxurious lifestyles. This led to police raids on homes in March 2017.

Marc Campbell’s house in Thornton was raided, with police using an armored vehicle to enter. Spackman’s home also got raided, revealing his connections to Fernhill gang leaders who terrorized south Liverpool, a gang police had already taken down.

Police aimed to target those above the gang and seized cocaine, heroin, and cannabis with a street value of £1.25 million. The gang also lost cash and goods worth hundreds of thousands, marking the first time new powers were used to seize suspected criminal wealth.

Police could not, however, recover the lavish holidays to Thailand and Dubai. They stripped Spackman’s house of valuables, while Campbell’s home lost gym equipment and designer items.

Police seized a Rolex from Campbell’s home, and his partner’s jewelry, a Cartier set worth £10,000, caught their attention. The gang then appeared in court, Spackman notably wearing prison slippers that day.

Steve Reardon led the investigation, highlighting that the gang lived dream lifestyles. However, this lifestyle was short-lived, demonstrating that crime does not pay.

Judge David Aubrey KC sentenced the gang, noting they worked as a team to distribute drugs across the country with profit as the main goal. He emphasized that the well-organized plan lacked thought for society.

Ian Spackman, identified as the leader, received 17 years and four months. He challenged strangers watching him and delegated tasks to others.

James Gannon got 22 years for coordinating operations. He spent a lot on trips and made preparations for the cannabis plot.

Tom Collins received 16 years as he was in the gang’s higher tier, also taking trips. He bought a tool for drug exploits and was later caught in Spain.

Marc Campbell got 14 years for operating in Liverpool and enjoying trips. After police raided his home, he claimed he was framed.

Wayne Franklin received nine years after having £80,000 cash in a bag and cocaine at home.

Peter Mulvaney got 19 years for setting up the fake plumbing company. He rented the unit for deliveries and looked respectable when signing for them.

Paul Hornby received 13 years and four months for smuggling cannabis to the Isle of Man and managing supplies. He was within the trusted circle.

John Carey got 11 years and four months as the main courier to Blackpool, a route he travelled very often.

Gary Unsworth got seven years and six months for his involvement in drug plots, serving as a key link to contacts and acting as a courier with prior convictions.