Overview
- Derby Crown Court convicted most defendants and handed combined sentences exceeding 127 years after a trial that concluded with sentencing on Friday, July 10.
- Prosecutors told the court the network ran coordinated national imports, including a reported 739kg collection in July 2024 that was landed near Southampton and moved north for distribution.
- Court evidence identified two linked conspiracies led by Dominic Hulland and Aaron O’Donnell, who received 16½ years and 14 years 8 months respectively, and supply coordinator Harninder Purewal, jailed for 20 years.
- Abrirahiim (Samir) Hassan, described by prosecutors as the London–Derby link man, was convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine and sentenced to about 18½ years in prison; Derbyshire Police confirmed rapper 50 Cent wrote to offer to pay his bail so he could join a tour, a detail disclosed in court but not treated as evidence of criminal involvement by the artist.
- Police seized multiple kilogramme consignments, thousands of pounds in cash, expensive clothing and videos used in court to illustrate profits and lifestyle, and the convictions are likely to prompt further probes into import channels and money flows.