Three men involved in a large-scale supply network of cocaine and cannabis in Chester have been sentenced to a combined total of over 20 years in prison.

The ringleaders of the drug operation, Paul Ibell, 32, of Marys Road, Chester, and Sean Mooney, 29, of Kensington Green, Chester shared a legitimate painting and decorating business.

The pair used their business vehicle as a means of covertly transporting multi-kilo supplies of cannabis and conducting criminal meetings.

As their criminal enterprise grew, Ibell and Mooney employed their associate, 30 year-old Edward Kaye, of Bridge Court, Chester, to assist in the cultivation of cannabis at a property in north Wales.

The investigation was referred to as 'Operation Leonardo' by detectives within Cheshire Constabulary's Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

It began as a result of a national operation into the encrypted messaging service EncroChat (a secretive communications network used exclusively by serious and organised criminals).

A robust analysis of the encrypted data, which spanned between March to June 2020, identified that Ibell had been conspiring to supply bulk amounts of cocaine and cannabis with other like-minded criminals, under the username 'Holysoda'.

Evidence gathered from the messages established the scale of criminality that Ibell was involved in.

It's believed that between March and June 2020, Ibell sold a minimum of 43 kilos of cannabis during the EncroChat phase of the operation.

Within the messages, Ibell himself acknowledges that his cocaine supply has been slow, likely due to Covid-19 and the restrictions in place at that time, so the total amount of cocaine he is believed to have sold is between one to three kilos.

Six images recovered from the Encrochat data, which displayed a hand holding a cannabis bud, were also forensically examined.

A fingerprint analysis identified Ibell as the person holding the cannabis in the images.

As the investigation into Ibell's criminality continued, a second phase of Operation Leonardo was launched in 2023, which demonstrated Ibell operating in a similar way to that outlined in his EncroChat communications.

During this time, it was identified that Ibell was working closely with his business partner, Mooney, and their associate, Kaye, to facilitate a sophisticated and well-established supply network of cannabis in Cheshire and north Wales.

Ibell and Mooney owned a painting and decorating business, along with café companies, all while playing leading roles in their OCG and the cannabis conspiracy.

The pair would receive bulk amounts of cannabis from their upstream suppliers, working specifically with an Albanian OCG who operated nationally.

They would then store the drugs in rural stash houses before selling the supply to downstream customers.

A number of locations controlled by the OCG were identified throughout the investigation that were crucial to the supply network.

Two properties at addresses in Balderton, Chester, and Oil Sites Road, Ellesmere Port, were used as stash houses where Ibell and Mooney would not only store their supply but would conduct drug exchanges with their suppliers and customers.

Edward Kaye was also employed by Ibell and Mooney to assist with the sourcing and maintenance of their cannabis farm which had been set up at a property in the Gresford area of Wrexham, north Wales.

As the policing operation began to close in on them, a series of warrants were executed by SOCU officers at the primary addresses used by the OCG, one of which was found to contain over 60 cannabis plants in a sophisticated set-up.

The other locations stored large quantities of cannabis, cash, and drug paraphernalia, all of which were recovered by officers.

Detectives established that Ibell, Mooney, and Kaye, were involved in the sale of at least 200 kilos of cannabis as a result of their operation in Chester, Merseyside and north Wales.

The men were arrested during a strike day on Wednesday 6 March 2024 and subsequently charged with conspiracy to supply class B drugs (cannabis).

Ibell was also charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply cannabis in relation to EncroChat evidence.

The men pleaded guilty to all charges put to them.

They appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday 26 February, where they were sentenced for their roles in the supply in illegal drugs.

Ibell was sentenced to 16 years in prison, Mooney was sentenced to five years, and Kaye was sentenced to three years and four months.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Henderson, of Cheshire Constabulary's Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: "These men were operating at a sophisticated level, selling multi-kilo drug supplies while living luxuriously on their illegal proceeds.

"Their attempts to conceal their drugs conspiracy through "legitimate" business ventures had them believing they were untouchable.

"They had no idea our team were one step ahead, working behind the scenes gathering evidence in order to put them before the courts.

"Along with their own production, Ibell and Mooney sourced their drugs from Albanian OCG's who supplied them with bulk amounts of cannabis.

"Operation Leonardo has since dismantled a Chester based OCG, who sold substantial quantities of illegal drugs to well-established organised criminals in Cheshire, Merseyside and north Wales.

"We have also targeted an Albanian OCG which operates on a national scale, seizing six courier vehicles, £120,000 worth of cannabis, and have made a number of arrests for drug supply and immigration offences.

"I hope the conclusion of this case, and the lengthy prison sentences handed to Ibell, Mooney, and Kaye, reassures the community that we are committed to tackling organised criminals and their illegal drugs activity and if anyone has any concerns about this happening in their neighbourhood, they should get in touch with us through our website or by calling 101.

"You can also report information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."