Six Jailed Over 60 Years for £1m Drug Import Conspiracy

Six people have been sentenced to over 60 years in prison for their roles in a conspiracy to import class A and class B drugs into the UK. The sentencing took place today, Thursday 9 April, at Bolton Crown Court, concluding Greater Manchester Police's two-year Operation Image investigation. The total street value of the drugs seized as part of the investigation was over £1 million.

The investigation began in March 2024. UK Border Force seized 8 kilos of high purity cocaine off a flight from Jamaica. This consignment was destined for residential addresses across Greater Manchester.

Arrests were made in connection with the importation in May 2025. Further arrests followed in December 2025. These arrests occurred after search warrants were executed at addresses in Gorton, Didsbury, and Stockport.

At an address in Gorton, police seized a further 4 kilos of cocaine. Thousands of MDMA and 2CB tablets were also found. Officers recovered a kilo of cannabis and £100,000 in cash.

The investigation showed contact between several defendants and a man in Jamaica. This man had been previously deported from the UK. The defendants’ bank records showed money sent to this individual. During the trial, two defendants claimed these money transfers were "for the purchasing of goats, not drugs".

Sentences Issued

Darren Bailey (03.03.1979) of Lisburne Lane, Offerton, Stockport, was found guilty of conspiracy to import class A drugs, conspiracy to supply class A drugs, conspiracy to produce class B drugs, and conspiracy to supply class B drugs. He was sentenced to 19 years.

Nathan Charles (20.05.1989) of Highfield Range, Gorton, was found guilty of conspiracy to import class A drugs, conspiracy to supply class A drugs, conspiracy to produce class B drugs, and conspiracy to supply class B drugs. He was sentenced to 17 years.

Adrian Stephenson (05.01.1990) of Peers Street, Bury, was found guilty of conspiracy to import class A drugs. He was sentenced to 9.5 years.

Panashe Nyamariwata (25.11.1996) of Adelphi Road, Salford, was found guilty of conspiracy to import class A drugs. He was sentenced to 6 years.

Charlene Bellamy (22.02.1983) of Fairway Road, Oldham, was found guilty of conspiracy to import class A drugs. She was sentenced to 5 years.

Kamica Morris (02.06.1994) of Hanworth Close, Manchester, was found guilty of conspiracy to import class A drugs. She was sentenced to 4 years.

Hannah Conlon (14.11.1991) of Cherry Avenue, Bury, was found guilty of conspiracy to import class B drugs during the same trial. Over three kilos of cannabis was seized from America to be delivered to her home address between January and March 2024. She will be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday 20 April 2026.

Police Statement

Detective Constable Ryan O’Hanlon from Greater Manchester Police said: “This investigation has taken drugs off the street worth over a million pounds. Drugs ruin lives and the crimes that are committed to fund the habits that dealer’s profit from blight our communities.

“It shows the lengths that this group went to for their own greed; bringing drugs into the UK from abroad to maximise their profits with no thought for the misery that their actions cause.

“Officers have worked tirelessly for over two years to ensure that these offenders were brought to justice – executing several warrants and gathering countless pieces of evidence which led to the jury seeing through their lies and finding all guilty.

“Today’s sentences reflect the serious nature of the crimes they committed, and I am thankful they are now behind bars, and away from the communities that officers work tirelessly to protect.”

OFFICIAL SOURCE VERIFICATION: This article is based on an official press release issued by a Police Force. Document: “For goats not drugs” – six sentenced to over 60 years in prison for conspiracy to import drugs totalling over £1m Source Link: https://www.gmp.police.uk/news/greater-manchester/news/news/2026/april/for-goats-not-drugs--six-sentenced-to-over-60-years-in-prison-for-conspiracy-to-import-drugs-totalling-over-1m/

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