Canvey: Trio who ran a drug line have been jailed
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A married couple who ran a drug line and a man who helped run their Canvey operation, have been jailed for a total of almost nine years.
The trio who operated a drug line known as Gold and Silver because of the wrappers they used to package their drugs, were jailed for supplying cocaine when they appeared at Southend Crown Court on Friday 2 February.
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Stephen Tappenden, 62 and his wife, Tracy, 53, were charged with being concerned in drug supply in Canvey following a warrant at their home in Wickhay, Basildon, on Monday 2 October last year.
During a search, officers found multiple mobile phones containing drug messaging, cash and drug related paraphernalia including silver and gold paper to wrap the drugs.
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Simultaneously, James Gorrie, 60, was arrested at his home address in Fielding Way, Hutton, where more mobiles and cash were found.
During the search of the property, 40 wraps of cocaine were found alongside paraphernalia to cut and package the drugs were found.
All three admitted their parts in supplying Class A drugs when they appeared in court at an earlier hearing.
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James Gorrie, and Stephen and Tracy Tappenden all pleaded guilty to drug supply and were jailed as follows: Stephen Tappenden for 3 years and 8 months, Tracy Tappenden for 2 years and 9 months and James Gorrie who also admitted possession with intent to supply was jailed for a total of 2 years and 6 months.
District Commander Paul Hogben, said:
This was a clearly organised drug dealing group that has now been disbanded due to the robust intelligence-led investigation by Operation Falcon.
It took ten months to gather the evidence used against them, which proved too overwhelming for the trio to deny.
Drugs never have and never will have any part in Canvey and we will continue to root out drug dealers so that our community can feel safe and supported by our officers.
I’d encourage anyone who knows about drugs and those dealing drugs in their area to come forward and we will deal.
It took ten months to gather the evidence used against them, which proved too overwhelming for the trio to deny.
Drugs never have and never will have any part in Canvey and we will continue to root out drug dealers so that our community can feel safe and supported by our officers.
I’d encourage anyone who knows about drugs and those dealing drugs in their area to come forward and we will deal.
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