Seven people sentenced for Lincoln drug conspiracy

Seven people sentenced for Lincoln drug conspiracy

The co-conspirators of a large‑scale drug network were sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court today, Friday 23 October, to a total of 33 years and four months in prison, each pleading guilty in the face of overwhelming evidence.

Op Experiments was an extensive operation that thwarted the activity of the five men and one woman plus another woman who laundered dirty money, playing a part in a drug supply chain which saw an estimated £2 million worth of cocaine flooding the streets of Lincoln over the conspiracy period of 18 months between January 2024 and July 2025.

The organised crime group (OCG) consisted of a principal subject, an upstream dealer, a close criminal associate holding the deal line, two couriers and a money launderer.

What began as a concern raised by a local resident on the Glebe Park Estate area of Lincoln - who spoke with a Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) officer about suspected drug-related anti-social behaviour in the area - developed into a much larger operation.

What followed was an investigation into a class A and B drug supply which culminated in a major drug-trafficking lifeline being severed – a blow to the OCG, cutting off a supply to Lincoln of 65 kilograms of cocaine over the period of the 18-month conspiracy. Analysis of four months' worth of messages from Nganyi's mobile phone showed that he was also involved in the supply of 10 kilograms of ketamine, and 2.6 kilograms of cannabis, which over the course of the conspiracy period would equate to approximately 45 kilograms of ketamine and 11.5 kilograms of cannabis for the 18-month period.

This operation has dismantled a major supply network that was fuelling drug-related harm across our communities and causing misery for countless individuals and families.

As part of the conspiracy, we also intercepted an upstream dealer, Aaron Eagan, who supplied the principal figure of this conspiracy, Gabby Nganyi, with eight kilograms of cocaine over a four-month period.

Serious and Organised Crime Unit Detective Sergeant Adam Petty said: “We take your reports of concern seriously. It takes time to investigate, build a case, and gather sufficient evidence that will stand up in court. Building a robust case requires time, patience, and meticulous work to gather the evidence needed to secure convictions.

“When you share your concerns with us, you may not always see immediate visible action, but there is significant work taking place behind the scenes. Intelligence is carefully assessed by specialist teams, neighbourhood officers are addressing issues at a local level, detectives are building robust cases, and we are working closely with partners and other forces to tackle these networks from all angles.

“Please keep reporting what you see and experience. Your information is vital, and it plays a direct role in helping us disrupt and dismantle serious and organised crime. Our commitment to tackling these groups and protecting our communities remains unwavering.”

Sentencing

The principal subject, Gabby Nganyi, 22, of Curlew Close, Cherry Willingham, Lincoln was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison.

Between the conspiracy period of 1 January 2024 and 2 July 2025, he carried out multiple offences as part of the conspiracy, including:

Conspiring with others to be concerned in the supply of a controlled drug of Class A -cocaine

Conspiring to supply a controlled drug of Class B – cannabis

Being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a class B drug

Transferring criminal property, namely bank credits (money laundering), knowing or suspecting it to represent in whole or part and whether directly or indirectly, the proceeds of criminal conduct

Acquiring, using or possessing criminal property, namely cash knowing or suspecting it to represent in whole or part and whether directly or indirectly, the proceeds of criminal conduct

Aaron Egan, 41, of Sugar Well Road, Meanwood, Leeds, who was already on a 10-year licence for drug supply, was Nganyi’s upstream class A dealer, and was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison after having been convicted of:

Conspiring with others to be concerned in the supply of cocaine,

Two counts of conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of Class B – Ketamine and Cannabis

Brandan Taylor, 23, of HMP Lincoln, a close criminal associate of Nganyi, who was responsible for holding the deal line and coordinating couriers and runners to transport drugs. He was sentenced to six years and nine months after being convicted of:

Conspiring with others to be concerned in the supply of cocaine

Two counts of conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of Class B – ketamine and cannabis

Acquiring, using or possessing criminal property, namely cash knowing or suspecting it to represent in whole or part and whether directly or indirectly, the proceeds of criminal conduct

Luke Granger, 31, of Malvern Avenue, Washingborough, Lincoln, a courier who had cannabis shipments sent to his address from the USA was sentenced to four years and 10 months and order to pay a victim surcharge, after being convicted of:

Conspiring with others to be concerned in the supply of cocaine

Being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a class B drug

He also pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of Class B – Ketamine and Cannabis which are to remain on file.

Chloe Sharp, 27, of Pasture View Road, Rothwell, Leeds, a Leeds-based courier who was stopped in possession of £60,050 cash, was ordered to serve a two-year community order, spend six months on a tag, undertake 250 hours of unpaid work, and to pay a victim surcharge after being convicted of:

Conspiring with others to be concerned in the supply of cocaine

Conspiring to supply a controlled drug of Class B – ketamine

Jacob Doughty, 20, of Oakland Crescent, Ruskington, Sleaford, a Lincoln-based courier was ordered to serve a three-year community order, spend three months on a tag, undertake 300 hours of unpaid work and to pay a victim surcharge after being convicted of:

Conspiring with others to be concerned in the supply of cocaine

Conspiring to supply a controlled drug of Class B – ketamine

Stephanie Bellamy, 31, of Bunkers Hill, Lincoln, a former Lincoln soft play / tan shop owner pleaded guilty to receiving a £20,000 drug money investment into her businesses and paying ‘wages’ to principal conspirator Nganyi via a bogus business. At an earlier hearing on 10 March, she was handed a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for two years after being convicted of:

The transfer of criminal property namely, bank credits, knowing or suspecting it to represent in whole or part and whether directly or indirectly, the proceeds of criminal conduct.

Confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act remain ongoing for Gabby Nganyi, Aaron Eagan, Brandan Taylor and Stephanie Bellamy.

How we solved it

Look out for the video of how we solved in the coming days.

TO VIEW IMAGES OF THOSE SERVED CUSTODIAL SENTENCES, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE

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