Liverpool gang made £1m a year supplying cocaine and heroin 2026

Key Points

• Seven members of the Liverpool-based organised crime group have been jailed for 60 years altogether.
• This group headed by Craig Clifton dealt with trafficking of cocaine, heroin and cannabis from 2018 through 2025.
• It appears that one of three “graft phones” of the group contained 877 contacts and the earning capability annually is claimed to be equal to about £1 million.
• There were found 82kg of cannabis, 4.3kg of cocaine and 0.5kg of heroin.
• The seized narcotics had a street value assessed between £1,007,621 and £1,677,803.
• Also, officers found out £187,809 in cash during the police operation across South Liverpool carried out on November 13, 2025.
• Craig Clifton was sentenced to the largest term, 18 years of imprisonment, Sam Murphy was jailed for 12 years.
• The tenth defendant, Ruth Mackenzie will be sentenced later on.
• According to the Merseyside Police, the case can be qualified as a significant and long investigation of drug traffickers.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) October 27, 2026 – Liverpool Echo reported that seven members of a Liverpool organised crime group which earned up to £1 million a year have been sentenced to a combined 60 years in prison after police recovered cocaine, heroin and cannabis with an estimated street value of up to £1.67 million.

Who was jailed in the Liverpool drugs gang case?

The sentences were passed at Liverpool Crown Court. As reported by Liverpool Echo, the organised crime group was headed by 40-year-old Craig Clifton, of no fixed address, who admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis, possession of criminal property, converting criminal property, two counts of being concerned in money laundering and breaching a suspended sentence order.

Clifton was jailed for 18 years. The court heard that he was at the head of the drug trafficking and money laundering enterprise, which operated between 2018 and 2025.

Sam Murphy, 35, of Adcote Road in Dovecot, was described by Judge Louise Brandon as Clifton’s “right hand man”. Liverpool Echo reported that Murphy admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis, possession of criminal property and converting criminal property. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Robert McGregor, 44, of Fordlea Road in Norris Green, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis and two counts of possession of criminal property. He was said to have been involved in the storage, movement and preparation of drugs, and received an eight-year prison sentence.

What drugs did Merseyside Police recover?

Merseyside Police recovered 82kg of cannabis, 4.3kg of cocaine and half a kilogram of heroin during the investigation. Liverpool Echo reported that the drugs had an estimated street value of between £1,007,621 and £1,677,803.

Officers also recovered £187,809 in cash. The operation was brought to an end through a series of raids across South Liverpool on November 13 last year.

Liverpool Echo reported that some of the recovered drugs were wrapped in Pokémon Go branded packaging. The force said the investigation targeted an organised crime group based in South Liverpool that supplied commercial quantities of class A and class B drugs.

How did the Liverpool gang operate?

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the group operated three “graft phones”, which offered cocaine, heroin and cannabis for sale to customers. One line alone had 877 contacts and was said to have an annual earning potential of up to £1 million.

Stella Hayden, prosecuting, outlined the scale of the operation. As reported by Liverpool Echo, she said the seized drugs had an estimated street value of between £1,007,621 and £1,677,803.

The court was told that Clifton’s control and influence extended across the operation. Judge Louise Brandon said he was involved in the wholesale purchase of class A and class B drugs for a lengthy period and had others working for him, running other graft lines.

What sentences did the other gang members receive?

Four other men were jailed for six years or less. Francis Stewart, 25, of Stonegate Drive in Dingle, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Connor Whittle, 29, of Dingle Vale in Dingle, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine. Liverpool Echo reported that he was involved in supplying customers of the £1 million-a-year graft line and was also jailed for six years.

Joshua De-Asha, 34, of Wordsworth Street in Toxteth, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and possession of cannabis. He was described as a street dealer acting under orders from Clifton and Murphy, and received a six-year sentence.

Dylan McParland, 28, of Beresford Road in Dingle, admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of criminal property. The court heard he was involved in up to 15 drug deals per day. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

Jason Eaton, 31, of Montpelier Drive in Dingle, was convicted of being concerned in money laundering after a trial. He received a two-year prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work.

What happened to the remaining defendants?

Demi McPartland, 29, of Jacob Street in Dingle, admitted participating in the activities of an organised crime group. Liverpool Echo reported that she received a community order with 120 hours of unpaid work during an earlier hearing last month.

A 10th defendant, 53-year-old Ruth Mackenzie, also of Jacob Street, is due to be sentenced at a later date. The Liverpool Echo report did not state the charge against her or the date of her sentencing.

What did the judge say about the Liverpool drugs gang?

Judge Louise Brandon addressed the defendants during sentencing. As reported by Liverpool Echo, she said: “You have all contributed to the degradation and human misery that drugs cause to those take them, their families and the wider community, which is affected by crimes committed by those who become addicted to those drugs. It is inevitable that your families will also suffer because of your criminality.”

Addressing Clifton directly, the judge said:

“You were at the head of this drug trafficking and money laundering enterprise. You were involved in the wholesale purchase of class A and B drugs for a lengthy period. You had others working for you, running other graft lines.”

She added:

“Your control and influence extended to every aspect of this operation. Significant quantities of drugs were found in properties that you had control over. You had a hand in every aspect of this operation to ensure that you retained overall control.”

What did Merseyside Police say after the sentencing?

Detective Inspector Amanda French said the case followed a significant and lengthy investigation into drug dealing by an organised crime group based in South Liverpool. As reported by Liverpool Echo, she said the defendants played their part in an operation involving the supply of commercial quantities of cocaine, heroin and cannabis.

“Thanks to the tenacity and dedication of the investigation team, we were able to bring this OCG down and put nine people before the courts,” she said.

“Today’s sentencing is a testament to the hard work of those officers.”

Detective Inspector French also said drug dealing and associated criminality caused misery for law-abiding communities. She encouraged anyone with information about drug dealing in their area to pass it to police so communities could be made safer places to live and work.

Background of the Liverpool drugs gang case

The investigation concerned an organised crime group operating in South Liverpool between 2018 and 2025. According to Liverpool Echo, the group used three graft phones to sell cocaine, heroin and cannabis, with one line alone having 877 contacts and an alleged annual earning potential of up to £1 million.

Merseyside Police brought the operation to an end through raids across South Liverpool on November 13, 2025. The force recovered drugs, cash and evidence linking multiple defendants to the supply and laundering of criminal proceeds.

The case resulted in nine people being brought before the courts. Seven men were sentenced on the day reported by Liverpool Echo, while Demi McPartland had already received a community order and Ruth Mackenzie awaits sentencing.

How could this development affect Liverpool communities?

For residents in South Liverpool, the sentencing may provide reassurance that Merseyside Police are continuing to target organised drug supply networks. The recovery of drugs and cash, alongside lengthy prison sentences, removes key figures from an operation that police said supplied commercial quantities of cocaine, heroin and cannabis.

For local businesses and community organisations, the case highlights the wider impact of drug-related crime, including the harm identified by the sentencing judge to users, families and the wider community. Detective Inspector Amanda French’s appeal for information also indicates that police will continue to rely on community intelligence to identify further drug-dealing activity.

For people affected by drug supply in the area, the development may lead to increased confidence in reporting concerns to Merseyside Police. The force has said it remains committed to taking action against offenders and encourages anyone with information about drug dealing to come forward.