Hull: Organised crime group jailed for more than 50 years

An organised crime group (OCG), who distributed heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine, and amphetamines across Hull, were jailed for a collective total in excess of 50 years yesterday (Wednesday 13 April).

The group, led by Paul Cahalin (39) of Falkland Road, Hull, were proven at court to have conspired to sell large amounts of Class A drugs between May 2018 and January 2019.

The court heard how a total of approximately four kilos of heroin, 360 grams of cocaine, 50 grams of crack cocaine and 24 kilos of amphetamine were seized from the OCG by Humberside Police’s Specialist Serious and Organised Crime Unit.

The total street value of the drugs was estimated to be around £500,000 and a quantity of cash, totalling approximately £25,000, was also seized during the investigation.

The profit margins of the OCG over the course of the investigation are believed to be several million pounds.

Cahalin was sentenced to 18 years for heading up the criminal organisation.

Below Cahalin were his trusted seconds in command, Innocenzo Bonaccorso (28) of Hull, who was jailed for 13 and a half years, and Steven Abbott (52) of, Hull, who was jailed for eight years.

Both men were responsible for the transportation, storage, and distribution of the drugs, all under the command of Cahalin. Bonaccorso was also used in a managerial role by Cahalin and had responsibility for cutting the drugs and the onward supply to wholesale drug dealers.

Cahalin employed Abbott, who in turn recruited and worked alongside Max Sands (25) of Winteringham. They were responsible for travelling to the north-west of England to collect drugs and transport them back to Hull for distribution. 

Sands was sentenced to four years behind bars for his involvement in the operation. 

The remaining OCG members were William Burrows (52) of Hessle and Klaudian Liberko (25) of Hull. Burrows was sentenced to seven years, and Liberko received an eight-month sentence, suspended for two years.

Burrows played a role as drug dealer, possessing large quantities of drugs, whilst Liberko acted as the storage manager at the safe house. 

Another man, acting in the same capacity as Liberko at his property on Victoria Parade, Hull, was convicted in August 2019 for his role in the gang, receiving a custodial sentence of five years.

The OCG used sophisticated telecommunications to obtain wholesale amounts of controlled drugs from Liverpool and Manchester, showing not only the size and scale of the group but also their wider connections to other organised crime networks in the UK.

On Wednesday 29 August 2018, one kilogram of heroin and eight kilograms of amphetamine were seized from Max Sands’ vehicle on the M62, near to Howden. During surveillance, Abbott had been seen to collect the drugs from Liverpool before they were transferred to Sands’ vehicle.

On Friday 14 December 2018, police officers detained Bonaccorso as he left an address on Victoria Parade, Hull, and found him in possession of a significant quantity of Class A drugs.

Officers then raided the address and found a large quantity of Class A and B controlled drugs.

A bedroom on the first floor was being used to prepare and store the controlled drugs. It contained a safe with a large quantity of drugs locked inside as well as further controlled drugs hidden around the room. A significant quantity of Class B controlled drugs was found in a freezer in the living room.

As part of the wider investigation, further addresses were searched and approximately £22,000 in cash was recovered.

Detective Chief Inspector Iain Pottage, who led the investigation said: “Investigations like these can be incredibly lengthy and complex. To ensure our best chance of prosecution and significant sentencing, we need to ensure all lines of investigation are fully explored.

“The scale of this organised crime group was significant. The volumes of drugs that they distributed and the methods by which they operated undoubtedly meant that they posed a risk to the public.

“Our investigation has required in-depth digital forensic analysis, due to the number of phones recovered from the individuals, including encrypted devices, as well as large amounts of CCTV analysis. Due to the complexity of the operation, it has also necessitated the use of covert tactics to gather vital evidence.

“We work tirelessly to disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups operating within our area, with a particular focus on those leading the groups and those posing the greatest threat to our communities.

“I am confident that these individuals being jailed will have a significant impact on the drug trade in Hull. However, we will not become complacent in our action to tackle organised drug-related crime. We are committed to making sure our area remains an undesirable place for criminals, like these, to operate in.”

Summing up, the judge praised the ‘excellent and well-planned policing operation’.

“To our communities, I want to say thank you for the information you provide us relating to drug dealing activity,” continued DCI Pottage.

“We investigate all information that we receive, so please don’t worry if you don’t see immediate action. Sometimes we use what you tell us to build the bigger picture of evidence to have the best possible chance of a positive court outcome, as in this case. Please keep talking to us if you have any information about crime in your area.”

You call report information via our non-emergency 101 line or by speaking to local officers. Always call 999 in an emergency.

If you would prefer to report information anonymously you can do so via the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.