Faces of men from drug gangs who flooded part of Sussex with cocaine

They were involved in the Mazirel and Richardson organised crime groups, transporting and selling cocaine and cannabis around the South East on a huge scale.

They varied from “professional criminal” Oliver Mazirel to those who acted as couriers between Essex, London and Worthing.

More than 40kg of cannabis and 6kg of high-purity cocaine were handled between March 2020 and June 2021.

The cannabis was described as being sold on a “commercial scale”.

Judge Stephen Mooney told the men: “The sale of cocaine is a blight on our society and ruins lives. It destroys families.

"Some of you were addicts yourself. You were lured by the profit and motivated by greed. You were not motivated to sell small amounts, they were high purity.

“You all played varied roles and had varied levels of responsibility and now you must be punished for that.”

Ringleader Oliver Mazirel was sentenced to 14 years in prison (Image: Sussex Police)

Oliver Mazirel, 35, who appeared from video link in prison, was given a 14-year prison sentence to run consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving.

Lewes Crown Court, sitting in Brighton, heard on Thursday that he still orchestrated drug activity from prison to make money and had a “significant” involvement in the crime groups.

As Judge Mooney was passing sentence, a family member shouted from the public gallery “Oliver did not do this”.

Judge Mooney replied: “If you behave like that again I will hold you in contempt of court. I am not having that.”

The woman, dressed in all white with a Coco Chanel handbag, replied before leaving the court: “Well I am not having this, you are vindictive.”

Jamie Richardson, 47, of Shetland Court, Worthing, was described as one of the main organisers of the group.

“You had an addiction to cocaine which damaged your mental health,” said Judge Mooney, “Nonetheless, you still sold drugs.”

Jamie Richardson was another lead member. He was sentenced to eight years (Image: Sussex Police)

Richardson was jailed for eight years for supplying cocaine.

The court heard that Ergest Tarja, who appeared via video link in prison, was an Albanian national who had been in the UK for several years by using false IDs.

He was said to have played a leading role in the operation by organising the buying and selling of cocaine. He helped sell 5kg of cocaine between March 2020 and April 2021.

Tarja already had a four-year sentence for possession with intent to supply. Judge Mooney sentenced him to six years and six months to run consecutively.

Ergest Tarja was in the country illegally and played a significant role in the operation (Image: Sussex Police)

Daron Wood, 55, of Heene Road, Worthing, was an assistant to the Richardson group and was involved in one transfer of cocaine. He put his thumbs up to his family in the gallery as he was taken to the cells to begin a four year six month sentence.

Luke Stears, 34, of Canon Place, Southampton,  helped transport “at least 1kg of cocaine” to Hampshire. The court heard he became involved as a result of his own drug problems due to “financial pressures”. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

Daron Wood was doing charity work while selling drugs during lockdown (Image: Sussex Police)

Daniel Bashvogli, 40, of Crescent Road, Worthing, was involved in supplying cocaine and cannabis. He was sentenced to six years and three months.

Zac Danks, 26, of Harbolets Road, West Chiltington near Pulborough, collected 1kg of cocaine in total in December 2020. He was given a six-year sentence.

Daniel Taylor, 46, of Pavilion Close, Thakeham, was jailed for three years and nine months for being involved in the supply of cocaine and cannabis.

Warren Bines, 43, of De Paul Way, Brentwood in Essex, transported cocaine from Sussex to Essex. He was sentenced to two years and seven months. The court heard that Bines was put under pressure because of his learning difficulties.

Daniel Bashvogli supplied cocaine and cannabis (Image: Sussex Police)

Grandfather Carmine Melisi, 60, of no fixed address, was involved in one transfer of 1kg of cocaine.  Judge Mooney sentenced him to three years and one month in prison. He got three months to run concurrently for possessing a baton when he was arrested in October 2020.

Steven Bennett, 43, of South Street, Lancing, was jailed for two years and three months for supplying cocaine.

A 12th man, Dean Mazirel, 39, of South Street, Worthing, is being sentenced on Wednesday for supplying cocaine while Terrence White, of Mill Road, Worthing, had his case adjourned so he could get legal representation for his sentencing on March 21, also for supplying cocaine.

Oliver Mazirel and Steven Bennett denied the charges but were found guilty at trial in November last year. The other 11 men admitted the charges.