Drug kingpin ran £1 million cocaine operation while behind bars in Strangeways prison
A drug kingpin ran a £1 million cocaine operation while behind bars in Strangeways prison.
What was he initially jailed for?
Nico Logan, 31, was sentenced to 16 years in December 2021 for firearms and drug offences
It came after police police uncovered his illicit activity following the infiltration of the once encrypted messaging service, Encrochat
Using the alias 'fruitykecks,' Logan coordinated the delivery of drugs and firearms.
What did he do while behind bars?
While in prison, Logan arranged the importation of nearly £1 million worth of cocaine from the Netherlands to the UK.
How was he caught?
A UK Border Force officer at Birmingham Airport selected a parcel for examination on June 7, 2023.
The parcel was sent from an address in the Netherlands and was destined for an address in Wythenshawe.
Inside, the officer found 12 packages containing cocaine with an estimated street value of £1.2 million.
Greater Manchester Police launched a covert operation after the discovery.
On June 15, 2023, Michael Garside, 34, was seen collecting the parcel in Wythenshawe.
After receiving the delivery, Garside called Logan in prison, likely to inform him that the cocaine had arrived.
Investigations revealed this mirrored a similar call made in May 2023 following a previous delivery.
Later that night, police found Garside with a cardboard box containing cocaine at an address in Wythenshawe.
He was later released under investigation and police began to examine data from his mobile phone.
From here, detectives identified that he was working under the direction of someone in prison, later determined to be Logan.
On March 26, 2024, Logan was arrested and brought in for questioning.
Phone records revealed a pattern of calls between Logan and Garside, with most calls connecting to a cell mast near the prison.
Logan had also added a number for a friend named Michael, linked to Garside's Wythenshawe address.
Additionally, phone data showed Garside had received delivery details for a shipment on May 17, 2023 and had confirmed receipt of the delivery the next day.
Detectives pieced together the evidence and determined that Garside had been working under the direction of Logan whilst he was in prison.
How long were they jailed for?
Garside pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to import cocaine at a hearing in May this year.
Logan pleaded not guilty, but he was found guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine and conspiracy to supply cocaine following a four-day trial at Manchester Crown Square Crown Court.
Logan was sentenced to an additional 15 years for conspiracy to import and supply cocaine, to run consecutively with his 16-year sentence, this week.
Garside was sentenced to nine years and seven months for his role in the operation.
What did Greater Manchester Police say?
Det Constable Marc Walby, from GMP’s Serious Organised Crime Group, said: ”Nico Logan did not use his time in prison to rehabilitate, rather he continued to build on his illicit enterprise, seeking to make vast profits from the trade of a highly destructive commodity.
“We know that organised criminal networks will seek to exploit infrastructure like the postal or fast parcel system to bring their illegal commodities into the UK undetected, but we are working closely and collaboratively with a variety of partners and colleagues to stop them.”