FIVE members of an organised crime group have been jailed after purchasing and distributing £3.5 million worth of cocaine.

The 89 kilograms of cocaine were discovered following an investigation from information held on encrypted devices.

The court heard that between March 1, 2020, and June 15, 2020, the group, OCG, was involved in supplying cocaine.

They were also involved in the transfer of more than £1 million in cash.

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The five men were then sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, April 4.

Cavan Hanna, 52, of Pinewood Place in Dartford, was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.

Jamie Hanna, 50, of Martin Drive in Dartford, was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.

Daniel Dalligan, 55, of Station Road in Crayford, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Anthony Dominy, 64, of Little Heath Road in Bexleyheath, was sentenced to 11 and a half years imprisonment.

Thomas Mercer, 54, of Exmouth Road in Welling, was sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment.

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The group was led by brothers Cavan Hanna and Jamie Hanna.

They had employed Anthony Dominy and Daniel Dalligan as couriers to transport drugs and money throughout England.

Thomas Mercer, a banker, would launder money through his business to legitimise wages to the couriers.

Following a trial on March 30, Cavan and Jamie were found guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and transfer of criminal property.

Cavan was also found guilty on a further charge of possession of cocaine.

Dalligan and Dominy both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and money laundering on the second day of the trial.

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Mercer also pleaded guilty to money laundering before the start of the trial.

Data on Dominy’s encrypted device proved he had been involved in the collection of almost £3 million in cash between September 3, 2019, and November 26, 2019.

Police received data from the encrypted EncroChat communications platform on June 14, 2020.

The Hanna brothers, Dalligan and Dominy were shortly after arrested.

Mercer was arrested on August 6, 2020, after detectives identified him as someone working to launder the group's criminal cash.

Searches of addresses linked to Dalligan and Dominy in Crayford and Bexleyheath led to the discovery of almost £250,000 in cash, class A drugs, money counters, heat sealing machines, an encrypted handset, and a 22 calibre air rifle.

Two vans containing sophisticated purpose-built hydraulic ‘hides’ that were used by Dalligan and Dominy to transport multiple kilos of drugs and cash were also recovered from near the two addresses.

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Cavan Hanna was arrested at his home address where officers found numerous high value watches, as well as further class A drugs.

Jamie Hanna was also arrested at his home address and police found evidence which linked him to the conspiracy.

This included encrypted device chargers and leads as well as handwritten notes which further linked him to the conspiracy.

Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Masterson, from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: “This case is testimony to the hard work and persistence shown by the officers in my team.

“The Hanna brothers believed that their use of encrypted devices made them untouchable, but with significant resources and a brilliant team, we were able to curtail their criminal activity and bring them to justice.

"We will stop at nothing to dismantle organised crime groups such as the one run by the Hanna brothers.

“The direct link between drug dealing and violence is clear and the consequences bring absolute devastation to communities across London.

“The Met is totally committed to tackling violence and taking controlled substances off the streets of our city.”

Further court appearances regarding Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation and Serious Crime Prevention Order hearings are due to take place at a later date.

You can report a crime by calling the police on 101 or 999.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously by ringing 0800 555 111.

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