Here's how police caught Colchester drug dealers in probe

Between June and December of last year, Essex Police ran Operation Monaco which targeted individuals known to the force to be involved in drug dealing in Colchester.

An investigation into violence in the town linked the investigaton to the Leather Bottle pub, Shrub End Road, Colchester, and the Royal Mortar, in Military Road.

And from here covert officers acquainted themselves with drug dealers operating within the venues, beginning to build their case, with crooks unwittingly selling Class A drugs to the undercover officers.

Through those deals, they were able to work to expose the network, which included Karlin Cavill, Jordan Gibbins, Adam Stephenson, Benjamin Skelton, Nigel Parkes, Shane Dadds and John Stone.

Jailed - Benjamin Skelton, Karlin Cavill and Adam Stephenson

Stephanie Szymanska was also found to have supplied cocaine.

In the home of Adam Stephenson, officers located a Deliveroo food delivery back pack containing 686 grams of cocaine in it, as well as £25,000 from the 21-year-old’s sock drawer.

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The investigation led to the revocation of both the Leather Bottle and Royal Mortar’s alcohol licences, with the former getting it reinstated earlier this month.

Chief Inspector Rob Huddleston, Colchester’s district commander, said: “Colchester is a wonderful town with a busy nightlife which naturally leads to a busy night-time economy; that’s what we want, but we want it to be safe.

Hidden - drugs were found stashed in a Deliveroo bag

“We were able to link the actions of these people directly to a rise in violent incidents in the town and we wasted no time in using all resources available to us to arrest them, charge them and put them before the courts.

“Drug use and the crime which is sadly associated with it is not something which we as the police tackle alone, and in this case we worked very closely with our partners in Colchester Council on the issue and they, too, acted swiftly as they saw fit.

“Colchester is a really safe place to live, work and socialise and we do everything we can to ensure the behaviour of the few does not impact on the majority.”