Three men have been jailed for a combined 19 years after police busted a cocaine mixing operation that was set up inside a business in Stoke-on-Trent.

Daniell Lovatt, 37, of Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent, Martin Plant, 35, of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent and Billy Davidson, 31, of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, were all arrested in February this year when Staffordshire Police carried out a warrant on Smiths Passage, Fenton.

Lovatt was sitting in a van when officers moved in and arrested him. He had keys to an industrial building on him, which were used to open the shutter. Plant and Davidson were both hiding inside, but there was no escape for them and they were both arrested.

Plant was wearing a glove that had white residue on it, which officers believed to be cocaine.

Searches at the site were carried out, leading to the discovery of around £10,000 in cash, cocaine hydrochloride, drug cutting agents, herbal cannabis and a drug pressing machine.

A drug pressing machine was seized

All three men were questioned in custody and charged with a number of offences.

At Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday 14 October), they were all sentenced:

• Lovatt admitted conspiracy to supply a class A controlled drug – cocaine, concealing criminal property and possessing a controlled drug of class B. He was jailed for six-years-and-nine-months.
• Plant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of class A – cocaine and was jailed for six-years-and-nine-months.
• Davidson admitted conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of class A and was sentenced to six years.

Officers found £10,000 in cash, cocaine hydrochloride, drug cutting agents, herbal cannabis at the site

Detective Sergeant Marc Proctor, from the city proactive team, said: "This was a significant proactive operation that uncovered a sophisticated drug cultivation inside a number of industrial units in Fenton.

"We're working hard every single day to compile intelligence on those involved in the supply of drugs across the city so we can continue to act proactively to stop those responsible.

"The people responsible for these drug networks benefit financially from the addiction and vulnerability of users. It damages local communities and we're determined to put a stop to it."