Operation Venetic passes 500-year milestone

A specialist team setup to assist our takedown of serious and organised crime has now passed the milestone of 500 years in jail sentences.

Operation Venetic was launched in 2020 with our officers working alongside international law enforcement agencies to clampdown on organised criminal networks by infiltrating the encrypted messaging platform EncroChat.

This partnership approach continues to deliver outstanding results, with a total of 158 arrests made locally, nationally and internationally, as a result of investigations in the North East.

From this total, 67 offenders have been charged and jailed for a range of offences including conspiracy to supply cocaine, cannabis and Class B drugs.

The sentencings of drug-dealing duo Michael Falcus and Michael Rice in November pushed the total jail terms beyond 500 years, while the five years and two months handed to Harvey Dawson a little over a fortnight later means the tally now stands at 541 years and 7 months.

Operation Venetic has also seen more huge quantities of drugs and firearms removed from our streets, and the activity has also resulted in more than £1.1 million in criminal cash being seized by officers.

Here is a snapshot of some of the sentences since Operation Venetic was launched: 

• Chris Dixon, 45, of Gardiner Square, Kibblesworth, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply prohibited weapons, selling or transferring a prohibited weapon, conspiracy to supply Spice and conspiracy to supply amphetamine. Dixon’s associate Elliot Hopewell, 41, of Greenwood Avenue, Sheffield, admitted conspiracy to supply prohibited weapons, conspiracy to supply heroin, conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply spice and conspiracy to supply Ketamine. In November last year, Dixon was jailed for 22 years while Hopewell was sentenced to 15 years and five months in prison.
• Prisoner Michael Ferry, 34, previously of Wilmslow Close, Wallsend, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply cannabis, and in July was jailed for 22 years and six months behind bars.
• Stephen York, 43, of Falkirk, Killingworth, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A (Cocaine) and Class B drugs (Cannabis). York’s associate Peter Harrison, 37, of Ennderdale Road, Walker, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A (Cocaine) and Class B drugs (Cannabis). In November last year, York was jailed for 19 years and 10 months while Harrison was sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison.
• David Nixon, 32, of Chase Meadows, Blyth, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess a firearm and being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. Nixon’s associate Daniel Tait of Rennington Place, Newcastle, admitted possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply, three counts of possession of a firearm and possessing ammunition. In March 2021, Nixon was jailed for 15 years while Tait was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
• Michael Falcus, 55, of Manor Drive, Benton, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs. Falcus’ associate Michael Rice, 59, of Harriet Drive, Blaydon, was also found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine, and conspiracy to supply cannabis. In November, Falcus was jailed for 17 years while Rice was handed a 10-year term behind bars.
• Antonio Chiarella, 36, of Bury Street, Salford, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine. In May, he was jailed for 14 years and four months.
• William Davidson, 25, of The Copse, Blaydon, and Harry Fletcher, 27, of William Wailes Walk, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and ketamine. In March, Davidson was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, while Davidson was handed a term of five years and four months.
• Alan Gudgeon, 55, of Defoe Avenue, South Shields, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to supply cocaine and being concerned in the supply of cannabis, and in June was jailed for 10 years and 10 months.
• Peter Greenhill, 50, of Elmwood Park Court, Gosforth, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs. In June, Greenhill was jailed for 10 years.

Reflecting on Venetic’s latest milestone, Detective Chief Inspector Marc Michael, of Northumbria Police, said:

Operation Venetic continues to deliver superb results and this ongoing work with partners has brought dozens of offenders in our region to justice.

We are talking about very serious crime here with criminals seeking to profit from the most vulnerable members of our communities via illicit trading.

Many of those offenders are now in the midst of lengthy custodial sentences, and I would like to thank all of the officers and partners for the excellent teamwork which has brought us to this impressive milestone.

However, the hard work continues as we continue to ensure the North East is no safe haven for drug dealers and organised criminal networks.

We will never waver in our clampdown on organised criminal activity through Operation Sentinel, and it remains crucial for members of our communities to report any concerns they may have.

No matter how insignificant the information may seem, we need to hear from you to help bring more dangerous criminals to justice.

Anyone with information should send us a direct message on social media, use the live chat on the Force website or complete a crime update form.

For those who are unable to contact the Force those ways, call 101.