Three organised crime group members sentenced for roles in Coleraine drug supply operation

Three men, believed to be part of an organised crime group operating in the Coleraine area, were sentenced today at Belfast Crown Court for their involvement in the supply of controlled drugs across the North West.

The sentencing marks the culmination of a lengthy investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Organised Crime Branch into the group’s activities, which centred on trafficking cocaine.

Peter Anthony Neill, 38, from Coleraine, and Ashley Richard Craig, 35, from Strathfoyle, each received a two-year sentence, suspended for three years, after pleading guilty to conspiring with others to possess cocaine with intent to supply on 20 November 2015.

Aaron John Connor, 34, from Castlerock, was handed a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years, for purchasing a mobile phone top-up on 12 November 2025 intended to assist in drug supply operations.

Detective Sergeant Moore, who led the investigation, highlighted the significance of the case, stating:

“Today’s sentencings are the result of a lengthy and extensive investigation into the activities of an organised crime group operating primarily in the Coleraine area, but with activity extending into Derry/Londonderry and Claudy.”

He emphasised that the group’s operations were linked to a major drug seizure nearly a decade ago.

“On 20 November 2015, as part of a targeted police operation, a silver-coloured Mercedes was stopped and searched in the Nutts Corner area. Officers seized cocaine with a street value of approximately £405,000 from behind the driver’s footwell,” Moore explained.

The detective praised the collaborative efforts that brought the men to justice, adding, “Today, thanks to the efforts of our investigation team and working in partnership with the Public Prosecution Service, members of this organised crime group have been held to account.”

Superintendent Sinead McIldowney, District Commander for Causeway Coast and Glens, underscored the broader impact of such crimes on the community:

“Organised criminality and drug-dealing has no place in our community,” she said. “Those who supply illegal drugs care only about lining their own pockets, and always at the expense of others. They don’t care about the devastation that results, with families and loved ones left to deal with the inevitable heartache and loss.”

McIldowney also issued a stern warning to those involved in similar activities. “I hope that today’s result sends out a very powerful message,” she said.

“Working with our colleagues in Organised Crime Branch, we will continue to work tirelessly to remove drugs from our towns and neighbourhoods, and we will continue to bring those involved in illegal activity before the courts.”

The sentencing follows a 2015 operation that disrupted the group’s supply chain, with the seized cocaine representing a significant blow to their operations. Authorities have credited the success of the case to both police diligence and community support:

“We’re extremely grateful for the support of local people,” McIldowney added, encouraging anyone with information or concerns to contact police on 101.

The convictions serve as a reminder of law enforcement’s ongoing commitment to tackling organised crime and its devastating effects on Northern Ireland’s communities.