TWO men have been jailed for their part in a lucrative drugs supply operation that flooded Cumbria with cocaine potentially worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The plot was smashed by Cumbrian detectives, who revealed how criminals were ferrying "kilo quantities" of cocaine and thousands of pounds in illicit profits between West Yorkshire and Cumbria over nine-months in 2020.

“Trusted courier” Elliot Bramley, 26, was caught red-handed as he tried to deliver a one kilo consignment of cocaine. Prosecutors say he made at least 26 trips to Cumbria during the conspiracy.

Also in the dock at Carlisle Crown Court were two other men: 45-year-old Maryport man Robert McNichol, who is yet to be sentenced; and McNichol’s uncle Leslie Reid, 61, who denied being the operation’s money man.

After a trial, he was convicted of possessing £65,000 in drugs money and laundering more than £263,000 of the group’s drugs money.

McNichol, of Greenwood Terrace, Maryport, and Bramley, of Meanwood Road, Leeds, have admitted conspiring to supply cocaine.

Outlining the case, prosecutor Alaric Walmsley said between January 27, and November 20, 2020, McNichol and Bramley were involved in “the regular and continuous trafficking of cocaine from West Yorkshire to West Cumbria.”

The total amount of cocaine supplied over the course of the 26 trips must have been at least five kilos, said Mr Walmsley. “On each occasion,” said the prosecutor, “Bramley spent a very short time in Cumbria before returning to Yorkshire.

“On the final date, November 19, Bramley again drove from Yorkshire to Cumbria and met McNichol in Cockermouth. He supplied a one-kilogram block of cocaine to McNichol.”

The drugs were inside a package which had been labelled with the initials BM [McNichol was known as Bobby]. Bramley waited in the vehicle as McNichol took the cocaine to Reid’s home at St Helen’s Street in Cockermouth, said the prosecutor.

Police caught McNichol before he got there, and the package of drugs was seized. The drugs seized were 80 per cent pure cocaine, with a wholesale value of up to £45,000, said Mr Walmsley.

Police then raided Reid’s home in St Helens Street, recovering a package with ’45,000’ written on it. Inside was £45,000 in cash, together with a separate £520 bundle of cash. The total amount seized from the property was £65,185.

Reid told police that he had the money because he was a "professional gambler" and he had been on "a good run."

Mr Walmsley said a forensic examination of Reid’s mobile telephone revealed WhatsApp messages between him and McNichol, indicating that the total amount of cash handled during the conspiracy period was £263,420.

The messages showed that Reid was counting, packaging, and storing cash for McNichol, who was banned from having more than £5,000 in cash under the terms of a serious crime prevention order.

Jamie Baxter, for Bramley, said the defendant claimed that half the trips he made were to transport drugs, and the others to transport cash.

Over the last 20 months, said the barrister, Bramley has been subject to a curfew and he had reported to his local police station twice every week without fail. “He even moved close to the police station because of the amount of travel,” said Mr Baxter.

Tim Ashmole, for Reid, said the defendant did not accept the guilty verdict. Effectively a man of previous good character, the defendant last offended when he was a 17-year-old. He now cares for his mother.

He also raised money for charity.

Judge Richard Archer said that McNichol and Bramley had been responsible for bringing “significant quantities” of drugs to Cumbria, with Bramley having the role of trusted courier.

“There could have been no doubt in your mind as to the significance of the operation which you were involving yourself in,” said the judge. “Even someone who chose not to look in the packages need only have regard to the weights and the amounts handed over, whether drugs or cash.”

Judge Archer told Reid: “In your case, Mr Reid, as the uncle of Robert McNichol you played an important role in the continued success of your nephew’s drug dealing operation. You were the money man.

“You were able to keep tabs for him when he was busy doing other things.” This included checking who had paid and what was owed.

His nephew’s trappings of wealth – including lavish cars – made it inconceivable that Reid was unaware of how successful McNichol’s drug dealing operation was, said the judge.

Noting Bramley’s young age, his remorse, and his efforts to turn his life around, the judge imposed a jail term of five years and seven months.

Judge Archer accepted that Reid was a man of “positive good character” but said he had involved himself in the money laundering with “enthusiasm” over a long period. “It seems to me that while you continue to plead ignorance and remain in denial, there is no realistic prospect of rehabilitation,” said the judge.

He jailed Reid for two years. McNichol will be sentenced today.