The criminals who stole 1 million pounds of cocaine from a hiding place in Liverpool sold the drugs to a partner of the famous criminal Dale Kregan.
Liverpool gangster Richard Caswell conspired with the Cox criminal family to steal 30kg of cocaine from a house on Croxdale Road West. A father and son were seriously injured during the attack when they were cut and beaten by Caswell, Jason and Craig Cox.
Ben Monks-Gorton played the delivery driver on the day of the attack, May 23, 2020. The Royal Courts of Justice in Manchester heard the Cox brothers begin selling stolen drugs to associates in Manchester, including a man named Leon Atkinson.
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ECHO may reveal that Atkinson is an associate of Kregan. ECHO understands that Kregan has communicated with Atkinson in recent years.
Craigon of East Manchester killed police officers Nicolas Hughes, 23, and Fiona Bone, 32, in a gun and grenade attack that shocked the country.
Kregan also killed David Short, 46, and his son Mark, 23, as part of a gang war in East Manchester. Kregan received a full life sentence in 2013. Atkinson was acquitted of the murder of Mark Short and three counts of attempted murder after trial.
Last month, prosecutor Alex Langhorn told a Manchester court how Atkinson sent one of his “friends” to see Michael Nevin, who worked as a courier for the Cox brothers. After the first transaction, Atkinson contacted him again and said he wanted to buy more cocaine.
This led to a second meeting near the Etihad Stadium. The criminals involved, who used the Encrochat telephone network, created the Manchester City password for the transaction.
Police have uncovered the hideout as a result of Operation Venetic, which broke into the EncroChat telephone network used by Caswell and the Cox brothers.
Monks-Gorton, 30, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, was sentenced to six years and nine months. Nevin, 35, who worked as a courier for the Cox gang, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply cannabis and conspiracy to possess criminal property.
Innocent, who did not take part in the operation in the hiding place, was sentenced to nine years and nine months. Caswell will be convicted with Jason Cox, Craig Cox, Lee Cox later this month. The four men pleaded guilty to drug crimes and possession of criminal property.
Atkinson is due to be tried tomorrow (Monday) in a Manchester court for drug and money laundering offenses.
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