Weston-super-Mare trio jailed for cocaine dealing operation

Three people have been jailed for their role in an operation that handled more than £1m of cocaine.

Kieran Smith, 37, Samantha Haskins, 39, and Fraser McLeish, 37, all from Weston-super-Mare, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs at Bristol Crown Court.

Evidence was found of cocaine with a total street value of up to £1.3m having passed through Haskins’ home.

Detective Chief Inspector Ben Lavender said: “These sentences send a strong message: we will not tolerate the supply of illegal drugs in Avon and Somerset.”

The trio received the following sentences:

• McLeish, of Mendip Rise – three years
• Smith, of Ullswater Close – eight years and four months
• Haskins, of Worlebury Hill Road – five years and 10 months

Messages obtained by police showed McLeish, Smith and Haskins organising the collection and distribution of 7kg of cocaine and 20kg of cannabis between April and June 2020.

Evidence was also uncovered of the group making payments totalling more than £350,000 and discussing the supply of drugs across the town.

Haskins and McLeish were both arrested in June 2021 and 5kg of cocaine was recovered from Haskins’ address in a subsequent search.

Smith was arrested in January 2022 and the three were charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine).

McLeish was also charged with conspiracy to supply class B drugs (cannabis) and conspiracy to transfer criminal property.

Smith was charged with conspiracy to transfer criminal property, and Haskins was charged with being concerned in the supply of class A drugs (cocaine) and possession with intent to supply class A drugs (cocaine).

McLeish was found not guilty of conspiracy to supply a class A drug (cocaine) in June.

The trio pleaded guilty to these offences, with Haskins sentenced in August and McLeish and Smith sentenced on Tuesday.

Officer Lavender continued: “Drugs cause immense harm to our communities, particularly the most vulnerable, and we are committed to protecting them.

“McLeish, Smith and Haskins believed they could get away with their offending by using encrypted communications, but following a complex investigation we’ve now been able to bring them to justice.”