Eight-man Ipswich drugs gang jailed for 46 years total

Why it matters: The conviction dismantles a major organised crime network that operated across Ipswich and Leicester for 22 months, dealing drugs that harm local communities.

The details: Eight men received sentences ranging from three to nine years and four months after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges. The group sold more than 5kg of Class A drugs, including cocaine, MDMA, 2-CB and magic mushrooms, plus more than 5kg of ketamine.

The gang advertised their drugs through a messaging platform under the pseudonym CD Boutique during a 22-month operation, with arrests taking place between April 2021 and February 2022.

The big picture: Police launched a complex investigation involving over 80 officers from Suffolk, Leicester, Essex and Metropolitan Police forces. Seven simultaneous warrants were executed across Ipswich and Leicester on 30 November 2022, with large amounts of cash, drugs and mobile phones seized during arrests.

The sentences: Shams Hassan, 25, of Mill Road Drive, Ipswich, received the longest sentence of nine years and four months. Philip Obisanya, 25, of St Helen's Street, Ipswich, was jailed for seven years and one month. Alan Philip, 24, of Churchill Avenue, Ipswich, received six years and six months plus additional concurrent sentences for running a separate Leicester operation.

Oluwasemilore Adepetu, 25, of Fore Hamlet, Ipswich, was sentenced to six years and four months. Krzysztof Rachel, 25, of Henley Road, Ipswich, received six years. Asghar Hashemi, 24, of Upland Road, Ipswich, was jailed for four years and 10 months. Daequan Glymin, 24, of Murray Road, Ipswich, received 40 months.

Richard Obisanya, 24, of St Helens Street, Ipswich, who ran his own "Happy Times" drugs operation in Leicester, was sentenced to three years.

What they're saying: Detective Chief Inspector Greg Moore said, "The investigation into the activities of this network of drug suppliers took a protracted amount of time and skill by the investigative team due to the tactics employed by the group to try and avoid detection and prevent their network from being dismantled."

He added: "This highlights that Suffolk Constabulary will not tolerate the supply of controlled drugs. Those that undertake this activity have no regard to the lives and communities that are adversely affected."

What's next: Police encourage residents to report suspected drug activity via www.suffolk.police.uk/contact-us/report-something/report-crime, by calling 101, or anonymously through Crimestoppers at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or 0800 555 111.

The bottom line: A sophisticated drug network that tried to evade detection through encrypted messaging has been dismantled, with eight men now facing significant prison sentences for their crimes against Suffolk communities.