Christopher Riley appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Wednesday where he was sentenced for a conspiracy which saw him supplying large quantities of cocaine to local drug dealers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 35-year-old first came to the attention of officers back in 2020 as part of Operation Venetic – an international effort to thwart organised crime.

A team from Northumbria Police’s Crime Department swiftly set up a Covert operation to take down Riley’s illicit business.

They soon identified his right-hand man, Darren Johnson, and found that the pair had been responsible for the sale of 15kg of cocaine believed to be worth over half a million pounds as well as large quantities of cannabis between April 1 and May 31, 2020.

A comprehensive file of evidence was produced and on May 12, 2022, officers launched a targeted strike.

Riley was intercepted and arrested by officers at Newcastle Airport after returning from a trip to Dubai.

His home was searched as he was taken into custody – with officers seizing crypto-currency passwords, £3270 in cash and a knuckleduster.

Trusted Lieutenant Johnson was arrested the same day while driving on Welbeck Road in Byker and his home address also searched.

Officers recovered cannabis worth £16,800 and a small quantity of cocaine as well as a knuckleduster and a detailed debtors list.

The men were charged the following day with conspiring to supply Class A and B drugs.

And on Wednesday, July 12 they were dealt with as follows:

•Christopher Riley, of Washington Terrace, North Shields pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs and was jailed for 12-and-a-half years.

•Darren Johnson, 48, of Frosterley Place, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs and was jailed for nine-and-a-half years.