The Arrest of a Former Police Officer from Cardiff Leads to the Capture of a £7m Drugs Gang
The arrest of a former police officer from Cardiff has led to the dismantling of a £7 million drugs gang. Ex-police officer Steven Creasey, aged 67, was apprehended by police in Scotland. The Cardiff Crown Court sentencing hearing revealed that Creasey was intercepted by officers from Police Scotland in Fife on May 12, 2022, following a request from the Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit. Earlier that day, Creasey had driven from Cardiff to Liverpool before heading to Scotland. A search conducted by a drugs dog uncovered a hidden compartment professionally installed under the passenger seat of Creasey’s car, containing 5kg of heroin and one kilogram of adulterant. The discovery of a burner phone in Creasey’s possession led to the identification of other members of the Organised Crime Group (OCG) based in Liverpool.
- Steven Creasey, a professional courier from Allerton Street, Grangetown, Cardiff, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply heroin and sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison.
- Christopher Brannan, 38, and Stephen Hopkins, 59, were responsible for collecting wholesale amounts of heroin.
- The distribution of heroin across the UK was facilitated by Creasey, Kevin Thomson, 45, Christopher Heaney, 47, and Jeffrey Hickson, 61, with Brannan handling the laundering of profits through his partner Kirsty Murphy’s bank account.
The subsequent investigation, named Operation Solon by Tarian, revealed that Creasey was hired by the Liverpool-based OCG leaders as a courier. Raids were conducted on properties in Cardiff, Liverpool, Scotland, and Northumberland in late 2022, unearthing valuable items such as jewelry, drugs including heroin, cocaine, adulterants, opium, cannabis, and equipment for processing drugs.
The defendants received the following sentences:
- Christopher Brannan of Sanderman Road, Walton, Liverpool, was sentenced to 18 years and five months in prison for conspiracy to supply heroin.
- Christopher Heaney of Cunzie Street, Anstruther, Fife, received a nine-year and five-month prison term for the same offense.
- Jeffrey Hickson of Brewery Street, Blyth, Northumberland, was sentenced to 10 years and four months for conspiracy to supply heroin.
- Kevin Thomson of Inchgall Avenue, Crosshill, Lochgelly, Fife, was handed a six-year and 10-month sentence for conspiracy to supply heroin.
- Stephen Hopkins, previously of Haven Road, Fazakerley, Liverpool, was convicted posthumously for conspiracy to supply heroin.
- Kirsty Murphy of Sandeman Road, Walton, Liverpool, was given a suspended six-month sentence for cannabis production and involvement in arranging the retention of criminal proceeds.
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Rhys Richards of Tarian ROCU emphasized the impact of the OCG’s criminal activities and the collaborative effort that led to their capture. He stated, “Operation Solon was a complex investigation spanning two different jurisdictions, and the sentences handed down today are the result of dedicated police officers and staff. I hope these sentences send a strong message to those involved in drug dealing.”
Detective Richards expressed gratitude for the support from local police forces and law enforcement agencies in bringing the criminals to justice, highlighting the effectiveness of partnership working in such operations.