He was a ‘leading figure’ in an organised crime group, police said
08:09, 25 Oct 2025Updated 08:13, 25 Oct 2025
Darren Newlands (Image: Wiltshire Police)
A man who plotted to sell 4kg of cocaine in Bristol as part of a ‘multi-million pound operation’ across the Southwest has been jailed for twenty years. Darren Newlands was sentenced in Winchester Crown Court.
The 44-year-old was described by police as a leading figure in an organised crime group which conspired to supply dozens of kilos of cocaine between 2016 and 2020.
Investigating officer DC Matthew Harvey of SOCU said: “This lengthy sentence for Darren Newlands reflects the level of criminality in which he had involved himself over a period of several years.
The sentence is the conclusion of an extensive Wiltshire Police Serious Organised Crime Unit investigation into a sophisticated network which shipped more than 70kg of cocaine – worth £5.6m to £7m – across the South West.
Eight other people were jailed in January for being part of the plot, including brothers Warren and Kelroy Allison, who were jailed for 23 years and 16.5 years respectively.
Newlands, from Devizes in Wiltshire, used his position as a local business owner to ’employ’ Warren Allison and make him appear legitimate while transferring him large sums of money for drugs.
“Mr Newlands was already an established figure in Wiltshire’s cocaine supply by 2016, having commenced Warren Allison’s sham employment in November 2015 as a ‘Business Development Manager’ at Wiltshire Tyres,” DC Harvey said.
“There is no evidence that Warren Allison completed any work for the company, and the salary payments and business contract were nothing more than a façade to conceal the criminal activities of Mr Newlands and Mr Allison.”
Allison used income he received from Newlands to splurge on property and luxury vehicles such as a Lamborghini Huracan.
The police investigation into the group found Newlands was purchasing at least 5kg of cocaine at a time from the Allison brothers, which he then sold on to other suppliers. Kelroy Allison kept “extensive” records of the supply of drugs, which was later used as evidence against the brothers and Newlands.
The gang were under police surveillance on November 3 2020 when they took receipt of 4kg of cocaine intended for the Bristol market. Cops swooped in and arrested them, seizing drugs and two encrypted phones used to arrange the transportation of cocaine.
The police investigation started because of ‘community intelligence’, and DC Harvey urged members of the public to come forward when they suspected criminality to be occurring in their communities.
“These convictions should highlight to individuals involved in drug supply, or looking to establish criminal groups of this type that law enforcement can and will pursue those taking part, despite their attempts to avoid detection,” he said.
“This case commenced with community intelligence, and the results are plain to see, so I urge the public to come forward with any information and intelligence regarding this sort of activity.”
Following Newlands’ sentencing, officers will work under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover the money involved, which could be in excess of £3m.