Organised Crime boss jailed for supplying drugs in Carlisle

He'll spend nine years in prison

Author: Matt MaddrenPublished 15th Dec 2023

The head of an organised crime group (OCG) supplying drugs in Carlisle has been jailed.

37-year-old Robert Smith, from Garden Street in Carlisle was sentenced to nine years for conspiring to supply a class A controlled drug – Heroin and two counts of possessing criminal property.

The investigation forms part of Operation Alliance - Cumbria Constabulary’s ongoing response to protect the county against serious and organised crime.

In October 2022, police seized a kilogram of Heroin from an area of land behind an address linked to Smith on the outskirts of Newtown, Brampton.

Three months later, officers executed a warrant on a grey Golf linked to Smith. Concealed within the vehicle was £26,850.

Back in February, Smith was arrested leaving an address in Wetheral near Carlisle. Upon his arrest, officers conducted a search of the property and surroundings with money, heroin and items relating to the cutting of heroin seized. Hand blenders used to cut the drug were found in the property.

Officers traced the purchase of these items back to Smith. They tested positive for traces of heroin. Officers seized over 1.1 kilograms of bashed heroin, half a kilogram of compressed heroin and cutting agent.

T/Detective Inspector Brooker from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit said

“Disrupting the supply of drugs is among our policing priorities in Cumbria.

“Smith was the head of an Organised Crime Group supplying heroin within north Cumbria, a drug expert estimates that Smith will have likely handled 7.124kg of heroin over the conspiracy period.

“We have a strong track record of this in Cumbria and will continue our efforts to tackle the crime surrounding.”

“I hope these sentences send a strong message to those selling high harm drugs such as heroin: we will pursue you, arrest you, and prosecute you no matter where you live.”

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