Liverpool Drug Gang Receives Combined 63-Year Sentence for Sophisticated Cocaine Operation
A sophisticated drug trafficking network has been dismantled in Liverpool, with eight members receiving prison sentences totalling more than 63 years for operating what one expert described as an exceptionally well-run cocaine delivery service.
Celebratory Deal That Led to Downfall
The gang's operation came to light after they offered a special "3 for £75" cocaine promotion to celebrate the release of Luis Díaz's father from captivity in Colombia. The former Liverpool FC forward's father had been held by Colombian guerrillas for 13 days before being freed in November 2023.
Following this event, the gang sent a message from their dedicated "graft phone" reading: "3 for £75 for the next hour to celebrate Luis Diaz dad getting released in the Colombian jungle…" This promotional offer was distributed to their extensive customer base, which police later discovered numbered over 9,000 contacts.
Organised Criminal Enterprise
Led by Paul Lockyer, 42, from Birkdale, known to associates as 'the big fella', the operation was run alongside his right-hand man James Neary, 57. The pair oversaw a sophisticated network supplying two distinct types of cocaine across Liverpool: high-purity "flake" and an adulterated "mix" version.
The organisation functioned with remarkable efficiency, with members working in shifts to process and deliver hundreds of orders daily. Drugs were stored at multiple addresses throughout the city, and the operation maintained a dedicated phone line that operated around the clock to take orders.
Key members of the operation included:- Paul McArdle, 33, who coordinated cocaine deliveries
- Christopher Horrocks, 46, and Stephen Lynch, 38, who managed deals and restocking
- Michelle Higgins, 39, who stored large cocaine quantities at her Walton home
- Lee Nugent, 46, who acted as a dealer, assisted by partner Julie McCafferty, 43
Police Investigation and Raids
Unknown to the gang, investigators had been closely monitoring their activities for months, observing meetings where drugs were collected and tracking the handover of the dedicated order phone. On May 6 last year, officers executed simultaneous warrants at multiple addresses, arresting all eight members.
During the raids, police made significant discoveries including the graft phone located in a kitchen alongside a one-kilogram block of cocaine and a substantial quantity of adulterant. The investigation yielded 874 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of £89,000, drug-mixing equipment, and approximately £3,500 in cash believed to be proceeds of crime.
Scale of the Operation
The gang's operation demonstrated remarkable commercial sophistication, with thousands of promotional messages advertising "delivery to your door" services, special offers, and discounts. In one particularly modern touch, they even used an AI-generated video to promote Christmas discounts on their high-purity "flake" cocaine.
Between October 2023 and May 2025, investigators estimate the gang supplied at least 9.9 kilograms of cocaine, generating more than £620,000 in revenue. A drugs expert giving evidence in court stated he had "never encountered a drugs line as well run" as this operation.
Sentencing and Consequences
All eight defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs on June 10, 2025. At Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, February 9, they received the following sentences:
- Paul Lockyer: 11 years and 4 months
- James Neary: 9 years and 9 months
- Paul McArdle: 10 years and 1 month
- Stephen Lynch: 8 years
- Lee Nugent: 8 years
- Julie McCafferty: 6 years
- Christopher Horrocks: 6 years
- Michelle Higgins: 4 years and 6 months
Official Response
Jon Hughes, NCA Senior Manager of Merseyside OCP, commented on the case: "The group's criminal enterprise was like a fast food delivery service for drugs, with cocaine rapidly dispatched to hundreds of people every day and promotions offered that would keep people coming back for more."
He continued: "The cocaine trade causes significant harm, including fuelling horrendous violence on our streets. Every order this group fulfilled caused more harm to people and communities in Liverpool. It's really significant that we have shut down Lockyer's illicit business and ensured its members are now behind bars."
The case highlights the sophisticated methods employed by modern drug trafficking operations and the substantial resources dedicated by law enforcement to dismantle such networks. The gang's use of commercial marketing techniques, shift patterns, and dedicated communication channels demonstrated a level of organisation more commonly associated with legitimate businesses than criminal enterprises.
