Trio Jailed For £2m Class A Drugs Supply Plot, Leeds

Wednesday, 19 July, 2023

Three men have been jailed for their role in a plot to supply Class A drugs with an estimated value of over £2 million.

Officers from West Yorkshire Police stopped a Vauxhall Zafira being driven by Michael Flint in the East End Park area of Leeds on Wednesday January 18, where they found 10 kilos of cocaine hidden inside.

A further search was made at a nearby address controlled by Flint on Vinery Mount, where officers discovered 48 kilos of MDMA and a further three kilos of cocaine. 

A connected VW Tiguan was stopped by officers in the Cleveland area later that same day. 

Officers discovered a further three kilos of cocaine inside the car which was being driven by Sammy Stapleton, aged 38. Nathan Reilly, aged 22, was in the passenger seat.

Appearing before Leeds Crown Court for sentencing today, Flint, of Northfield Avenue, Rothwell, Leeds, was jailed for seven years and six months, for possession of cocaine and MDMA with intent to supply. 

Stapleton, of Peel Hall Road, Wythenshaw, Manchester, was jailed for three years and nine months for possession of cocaine with intent to supply; and Reilly, of Oxton Avenue, also in Wythenshaw, was jailed for two years and six months for possession of cocaine with intent to supply as well as possession of an offensive weapon – a knife which was discovered during a search of his address.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Dave Watts, of West Yorkshire Police’s Programme Precision team which tackles serious organised crime in the county, said: “We welcome the sentences handed down by the court today and are pleased that our actions have not only put these three men behind bars, but has made a significant disruption to the supply of Class A drugs. 

“By taking this kind of action, we will continue to target those who cause harm to the communities of West Yorkshire while profiting from organised crime.”