Drug gang leader who ran racket from jail cell given 20 years

Thu, 03 Aug 2023

The organiser of an Isle of Man and Merseyside based organised crime group, Kyle Johnson (aka Molyneux) was sentenced yesterday (August 3) for importing both Class A and B drugs to the island.

He was jailed for 20 years.

Johnson organised the importing of heroin, cannabis and cocaine from his prison cell, whilst on remand for a previous drug importation offence.

Multiple packages of heroin, cocaine and cannabis have been intercepted at the Isle of Man Post Sorting Office since 2020; Kyle Johnson was involved with all of these cases after it was found he had access to a number of illicit SIM cards in his IOM prison cell, the call data from the SIM cards linked him to the illegal activity.

In August 2021, a microwave was delivered to an address on island that had 248 grams (street value of £24,780) of cocaine within its mechanism. Two local men and one woman were involved in this importation, however phone data proved that again, so was Johnson.

Evidence gathered indicated that Johnson, an inmate within IOM prison was orchestrating the drugs coming into the island from his prison cell and a distribution network thereafter along with the collection of monies.

During September 2021, Prison Officers searched Johnson’s prison cell. They located a prison issue mobile phone with an illicit SIM card therein. This was subsequently linked to the other individuals involved in this Operation and according to the IOM Constabulary:

“it was clear Johnson was the main orchestrator and the link between all of these individuals”.

As a result of this investigation into an Organised Crime Group which spans both the Isle of Man and the North West of England, twelve individuals have been given lengthy custodial sentences having pleaded guilty to a wide range of serious drug, conspiracy and money laundering offences.

The drugs seized during this operation had a street value of nearly £100,000.00. Over £50,000 was also seized as criminal property (cash).

 

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