Six jailed for involvement in cocaine supply group

Six people who supplied cocaine across Warwickshire have been jailed following a multi-year police investigation.

Warwickshire Police said it began in June 2023 when 45 year-old Manjinder Pama, who was living in Nuneaton, was caught with £11,000 cash and almost £13,000 of cocaine.

He was jailed for six years - after which the force uncovered a wider supply network, including those beneath him and his supplier, who lived in Warwickshire, Birmingham, Worcestershire, and Wolverhampton.

It was also found that Pama had continued to run the supply line from prison, using phrases like "building materials" as code.

The force said it found that two others, Rachel Byrne and Shaun Neal, were involved, and were caught in Neal's car in 2023 with £13,000 of cocaine.

Later in 2023, Kamlesh Kaur and Lisa Banks were found to be part of the group and were arrested.

The force said evidence was reviewed and all of them were further arrested in November 2024.

At this time, Dipak Ram, the group's upward supplier, was also arrested. Officers found a further £13,000 of cocaine and £10,000 cash.

All six were sentenced at Warwick Crown Court on 17 April.

Pama, 45, from Nuneaton, had a further 33 months added to his existing prison sentence and was given a serious crime prevention order.

Ram, 41, from Birmingham, was sentenced to 11 years in prison and was given a serious crime prevention order.

Byrne, 34, from Worcestershire, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison.

Kaur, 40, from Wolverhampton, was sentenced to four years in prison.

Banks, 39, from Nuneaton, was given a two-year suspended sentence, rehab activity and electronic curfew.

Neal, 39, from Nuneaton, was given an 18-month suspended sentence and ordered to undertake unpaid work and rehab activity.

"Each one of these individuals was willing to spread misery, poverty and crime across Warwickshire to try to make some cash," said Det Sgt Daniel Lydster, who led the investigation.

"This was a long, complex investigation and we couldn't be more pleased that we have broken up this group and presented them to the courts to be held accountable.

"Cocaine fuels a chain of suffering that starts half way across the world and ends in damaging our communities here in Warwickshire – and anyone involved in its supply can expect to face justice."

Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.