Drugs suppliers jailed for more than 15 years

Two members of an organised crime group who admitted to being involved in the supply of class A drugs have today (Wednesday 9 February) been jailed for more than 15 years between them.

Sailesh Kumar was jailed for nine years and seven months after he pleaded guilty in December last year to conspiracy to supply cocaine.

At the same time Kevin Thomson also pleaded guilty to the same offence and he was sentenced today to six years and seven months in prison.

Both men were part of an organised crime group whose activities unravelled after officers from East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), supported by teams from across the force, executed more than 50 warrants in the summer of 2019.  The enforcement activity took place across Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Liverpool.

Kumar, 38, of Anglian Way, Coventry, was identified as the organiser who in February 2019 directed the exchange of more than two kilos of cocaine.   He used 45-year-old Thomson, of Ambergate Drive, Birstall, as his courier to deliver the drugs to another member of the organised crime group. 

The enforcement was codenamed - Operation Clubman – and led by Detective Inspector Lee Hunt from East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU).  DI Hunt said: “To date a number of individuals have been jailed for more than 165 years between them, those sentences are a testament to the vast amount of work that has gone into this operation.

“Officers have worked tirelessly on the evidence which has helped secure these convictions.

“Those convicted ran a business-like operation and they all had a key role to play in the supply of controlled drugs onto the streets. 

“This was a significant operation for us but our work doesn’t end here. We know the supply of controlled drugs is a never-ending battle and there is always someone waiting to fill the gap left by others.

“Our efforts to stop the misuse of drugs will continue and we will carry out further operations of this nature to disrupt the criminal activity.”

EMSOU is a collaboration between the five forces of the East Midlands set up to tackle the most violent, serious and organised criminals in the region.  Follow EMSOU @EMSpecialOps