Op Warrior: Four members of fang which smuggled drugs into prison jailed

Friday, May 9, 2025

Four members of an organised crime group (OCG) which was responsible for smuggling drugs into a prison have been jailed for just over 18 years.

The head of the OCG Usman Akhter, a serving prisoner at HMP Ranby in Nottinghamshire, controlled the supply of the Class B drugs in East Lancashire from his prison cell.

His second in command was T-Jay Russell who was responsible for dealing drugs on the outside and collecting drugs debts from others, often with the threats of violence.

Between March and September 2022, defendant Arek Matjeko was involved in the supplying of numerous drugs, including ecstasy, ketamine, cocaine and cannabis.

Throughout October and November 2022, the defendant Russell was conspiring with others to sell heroin and crack cocaine.

Also in October, Russell and defendants Damian Davies-Cummings and Kieron Hawley started dealing ketamine and cannabis together.

The following month Russell began to organise fraudulent number plates for vehicles.

On 26^th November and 5^th December 2022 Matjeko supplied Hawley with over £2,000 of cannabis which on both occasion was dropped off at the home of Cummings.

Throughout December 2022, Russell, Hawley, Davies-Cummings continue to deal Class A and Class B drugs.

On 3^rd February 2023, Hawley was in contact with defendant James Sneath, who at the time was a serving prisoner at HMP Ranby. They discussed Akhter and Sneath acted as a go between for drugs to be supplied into the prison.

Two days later Sneath messaged Hawley about Spice being supplied into the prison.

On 7^th February 2023 Sneath messaged Hawley from prison for him to tell Akhter that he was getting complaints about the quality of drugs he was sealing inside the prison, but he had around £500 for Akhter.

Throughout the rest of February 2023 Davies-Cummings and Russell continued to supply Class B drugs.

On 2^nd March 2023 Russell’s partner paid £200 to a serving prisoner in HMP Ranby.

On 28^th March 2023 Russell threatens Matjeko over a debt he owes to Akhter. This continues into the following month and Russell tells Matjeko that he has the address of one of his family members.

On 12^th April 2023 Akhter is in contact with Matjeko from his prison cell. Forty minutes later Matjeko sends Hawley larges amount of cannabis for sale, and on 21^st April 2023 Hawley sends £100 to a serving prisoner in HMP Ranby.

In May and June 2023 Russell continues to threaten Matjeko around money they owe to Akhter.

On 2^nd August 2023 our officers search a property linked to Davies-Cummings in Manxman Road, Blackburn, and find three kilos of cannabis.

Two days later the cell of a prisoner in HMP Ranby was searched and the drug Spice and a mobile phone was found. The phone was examined and the second top contact was Cummings. Evidence was recovered showing Akhter regularly in that cell.

All the defendants were subsequently arrested and drugs, cash and mobile phones were recovered.

The defendants were convicted of the offences listed below and sentenced today (9^th May) at Preston Crown Court to the following.

Usman Akhter, 40, of no fixed address, was convicted of Conspiring to Supply Class B drugs. He was jailed for six years.

T-Jay Russell, 20, of Bishopstone Close, Blackburn, was convicted of Conspiring to Supply Class A and B drugs. He was jailed for four years.

Arek Matjeko, 27, of Ayr Road, Blackburn, was convicted of Conspiring to Supply Class B drugs. He was jailed for seven years and eight months.

James Sneath, 37, of no fixed address, was convicted of Conspiring to Supply Class B drugs. He was jailed for 12months.

Damian Davies-Cummings, 20, of Manxman Road, Blackburn, was convicted of Conspiring to Supply Class B drugs. He was sentenced to 12 months custody, suspended for 12 months.

Kieron Hawley, 21, of Mona Road, Blackburn, was convicted of Conspiring to Supply Class B drugs. He was sentenced to 20 months custody, suspended for 18 months.

DS Stu Peall, of the East Exploitation Team, said: “Headed by Usman Akhter as the kingpin, this OCG was responsible for the trafficking of a significant amount of Class A and Class B drugs onto the streets of Blackburn and into a prison nearly 100 miles away. When debts weren’t paid, Akhter ordered others to engage in violence and threats of violence from his prison cell.

“I have these sentences send out a clear message that Lancashire Police and the courts will not tolerate behaviour of this kind, particularly when it is committed by individuals already serving time at His Majesty's pleasure.”

The action was taken as part of Operation Warrior, which is our response to tackling serious and organised crime in Lancashire and delivering on Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw's Fighting Crime Plan priority of disrupting and dismantling organised crime.

Mr Grunshaw said:  "It's fantastic to see the ongoing success of Op Warrior in removing drugs off our streets, even from 100 miles away. My thanks go to every single officer who helped to bring these criminals to justice.

 "Today's sentences are testament to this complex investigation and work in dismantling the activities of this criminal network both in and out of the prison system to protect the public. Organised crime creates misery and fear in local communities, and I will continue to back the chief constable, so that our police officers and staff have the resources necessary to tackle this issue, which is a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan for Lancashire."