News

More than 30 arrests have been made across the South West, with two guns, 17kg cocaine, 5kg MDMA, £790k cash and several high value cars and jewellery seized as part of the region’s response to Operation Venetic, the UK’s biggest ever law enforcement operation. The South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SW ROCU) has worked…
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Three people have been sentenced at Bristol Crown Court today (June 5) following a South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SW ROCU) investigation into the trafficking of women from Brazil to work in a Cheltenham-based brothel. Mark Viner, 62, was extradited from his villa near Barcelona last December and has been remanded in custody since. …
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A woman from Malmesbury has been sentenced to nearly six-and-a-half years in prison today (March 19) after admitting importing £1million worth of class A drug methamphetamine – commonly known as crystal meth – from Mexico.  The drugs were concealed inside plastic toy figures and disguised as coffee beans. Paola Patricia Morrish, 42, from Carnival Close,…
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Pictured is Protect, Prevent and Prepare Officer Ben Johns (right) receiving the Industry Champion award from NCSC’s Chris Ensor A team’s work to encourage young people across the South West to develop their cyber skills – while ensuring they stay above the law – has earned them the title of Cyber Schools Hub Industry Champion…
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A wanted man arrested in Calais last October has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years for his part in a conspiracy to supply cannabis from the West Midlands to Gloucester.  The other nine members of the organised crime group were sentenced to a total of 70 years in June 2018 following an investigation that saw £72,000…
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Three people appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court today (11 February) in connection with a South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SW ROCU) investigation into human trafficking. Lezlie Davies, 61, of Millennium Plaza in Cheltenham is charged with managing a brothel; Rosana Gomes, 45, of High Six Gardens in Patchway, Bristol, is charged with controlling prostitution…
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An organised crime group has been sentenced to a total of more than 60 years in prison for their roles in running a ‘county line’ known as the ‘Scouse Porky Line’, which supplied heroin and cocaine from Merseyside to Bournemouth. Eight of the group, which was led by Thomas Garcia and James Brown, pleaded guilty…
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A man has been extradited from Spain to the UK today (5 December) to face eight charges as part of a South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SW ROCU) investigation into human trafficking. Mark Viner, 61, was arrested at his home in Sitges, near Barcelona, on October 24 by Spanish police officers accompanied by officers…
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A man arrested last month following a warrant at his home in Yate has been sentenced to five years and four months in prison. Sean Mortell, 39, from Milton Road pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court on Monday (4 November) to three offences of possession with intent to supply drugs – cocaine, MDMA and cannabis…
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