Canvey: Operation takes down drug dealing group

Officers used a single phone number and a £20 drug deal as a starting point to take down an entire organised crime group supplying cocaine and cannabis across Canvey Island.

The culmination of this investigation has seen three drug dealers jailed for a total of more than 10 years.

The man at the top of the chain, 36-year-old Lonnie Tranter, of Third Walk, Canvey, supplied cocaine in bulk in exchange for a considerable profit.

He’s been jailed for five years, his assets have been frozen and proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act are underway against him.

Tranter supplied Lewis Slater, 31, of Fifth Avenue, Canvey, who ran cocaine and cannabis dealing lines with the assistance of 23-year-old Peter Bartlett, of Link Road, Canvey.

From the ground up

The investigation began in earnest with a simple drug stop.

The ongoing Operation Falcon has seen a dedicated team targeting and dismantling the organised crime groups (OCGs) and drug dealers operating in Castle Point and Rochford.

As part of this work, the team stopped a man on Canvey Island in September 2022.

He confirmed he was waiting to purchase £20 worth of cocaine. Examination of his mobile phone revealed a number of interest.

As the team’s investigation developed, monitoring and analysis of messages exchanged between a growing list of suspects detailed a clear structure and organisation, with “open hours” for when the drug lines would be active and a discreet delivery service.

This service would involve posting drugs through letter boxes or leaving them in open vehicles, as well as permitting customers to pay using bank accounts.

Drug activity continued to cause issues to law-abiding members of the Canvey community.

We established Slater would instruct runners to deliver drugs to customers and would personally chase up drug debts.

Jamie McLaughlin, 32, of Fifth Avenue, Canvey, and Rebecca Potter, 32, of Link Road, Canvey, the girlfriends of Slater and Bartlett respectively, allowed their bank accounts to be used for the depositing of drug profits.

Slater was unemployed during the period of our investigation, but regularly received upwards of £2,000 a month in third-party transactions from named individuals – including from a known drug runner.

The investigation found Tranter, as the supplier, took in considerable profit. His bank account showed a balance in excess of £80,000 as of January 2023.

Activity showed frequent cash deposits and third-party credits of varying amounts.

Purchases were made regularly at holiday destinations, clothing stores and restaurants.

Our work culminated in three strikes on addresses on Canvey Island on Thursday 5 October 2023.

At an address in Fifth Avenue, Slater and McLaughin were arrested, with cannabis and a quantity of cash seized.

At an address in Link Road, Bartlett and Potter were arrested, with a three-figure sum of cash seized and in excess of 200 wraps of cocaine seized.

Tranter, Slater, Bartlett and Potter appeared for sentence at Basildon Crown Court on Thursday 29 August.

Tranter previously admitted charges of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug and converting criminal property and was jailed for 60 months.

Slater previously admitted charges of being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs and was jailed for 32 months.

Bartlett previously admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession with intent to supply a Class A drug and converting criminal property and was jailed for 30 months.

Potter previously admitted possession with intent to supply a Class A drug and converting criminal property and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with mental health treatment and rehabilitation activity requirements attached. She will be subject to a six-month curfew.

McLaughlin previously admitted a charge of converting criminal property and appeared for sentence at Southend Crown Court on 30 April 2024.

She was sentenced to a two-year community order, with mental health treatment and rehabilitation activity requirements attached.

Regular reports relating to drug dealing

Constable Samuel Scrivener, officer in the case, said:

“The criminal activity associated to this group caused real issues and disruption to the decent, law-abiding community in Canvey.
“They shouldn’t have to deal with the fallout of drug activity near their homes and within their neighbourhoods.
“We were regularly receiving reports and complaints regarding these issues and that’s why Operation Falcon devoted significant time and effort towards bringing this entire network down.
“This involved careful evidence gathering around phone activity and financial work, with the co-operation of our Economic Crime Unit.
“As a result, three drug dealers will spend significant spells behind bars.
“There’s no room and no place for drug dealing in our district – we will not stop until each criminal associated with this awful trade is rooted out and put before the courts.
“This investigation hasn’t ended, we have secured bank accounts and assets we suspect are associated with this criminal operation for further proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act.”

What you know could be the missing puzzle piece we’re looking for.

We know that information held by our communities can help us to keep people safe and catch criminals.

We also know that our communities need to trust that we will listen to them and take action when we need to.

Our Police Intelligence page explains what happens when you tell us something you've seen or heard. It explains what to expect and what we need to know when you give us information. 

If you see or hear something that doesn’t seem right or causes you concern, we want you to tell us about it.

Keeping people safe is at the heart of what we do.

We're offering more ways for our communities to stay up to date with our work across Essex.

Our e-newsletter, Dispatch, delivers news, information, and advice from Essex Police.

Dispatch is a ‘one stop shop’ for local police news – direct from the source. 

Sign up is completely free and you can unsubscribe at any time.