Eight members of a Merseyside drug network received lengthy prison sentences for running a professional cocaine supply line that exploited high-profile news for marketing.
A Liverpool drugs gang has been jailed for over 63 years after using the release of Luis Diaz’s kidnapped father to market cocaine.
The group sent a “3 for £75” promotional text to 9,000 customers following the 2023 liberation of Luis Manuel Díaz.
Ringleader Paul Lockyer and seven associates operated a sophisticated 24/7 delivery network across the city before their arrest.
The National Crime Agency described the operation as a “fast food delivery service for drugs,” involving high-purity “flake” and discounted “mix.”
Authorities seized nearly a kilogram of cocaine and thousands in cash during raids in May 2025. NCA senior manager Jon Hughes stated:
“The group’s criminal enterprise was like a fast food delivery service for drugs, with cocaine rapidly dispatched to hundreds of people every day.”