Operation Achilles: Drugs with a street value of £100,000 seized

How police dismantled an OCG operating between the Isle of Man and Merseyside 

Twelve people have been jailed for almost 70 years in total for their part in a major drug trafficking operation which stretched between the Isle of Man and Merseyside.

The men and women, from the United Kingdom and the Island, made up an organised crime group which the Isle of Man Constabulary has been working to dismantle for more than three years.

Operation Achilles ran between February 2020 and April 2023 and saw officers seize heroin, cocaine and cannabis with a street value of almost £100,000 as well as £50,000 in criminal cash.

Yesterday (2 August) the Island resident described as playing a ‘pivotal role’ in leading the operation – Kyle Brian Molyneux/Johnson – was jailed for 20 years.

It’s believed to be the longest prison sentence ever handed down for drugs offences on the Isle of Man - you can find out more HERE.

The 27-year-old arranged for drugs to be sent to Manx shores, organised the distribution network and facilitated collection of the proceeds of crime, as well as enforcements for drug debts, predominantly from his cell at the Isle of Man Prison.

All of those charged and taken to court as part of Operation Achilles could be linked back to Molyneux – who, for much of the operation, was on remand facing a separate drug charge.

Kyle Brian Molyneux/Johnson

Operation Achilles - The Timeline

February 2020

• Officers seize 55 grams of heroin and 127 grams of cocaine from the postal system.

These drugs were sent from Liverpool to Onchan woman Sophia Russell who police described as ‘vulnerable’.

She was convicted for her involvement in the importation and was jailed for three years and eight months.

May 2020

• Parcel intercepted at the Isle of Man Post Office is found to contain 166 grams of cannabis.
• Parcel intercepted in Liverpool, addressed to a juvenile living in the south of the Island, found to contain 242 grams of heroin.

Police identified Merseyside man Matthew Henwood as the person responsible for sending all the packages.

He was arrested, when the Covid border restrictions eased, and admitted importing - and trying to import - nearly one kilogram of Class A drugs to the Isle of Man.

He was jailed for 11 years.

January 2021

• Police intercept £34,095 in cash secreted in a mobile burger van destined for Merseyside.

Two men are charged with money laundering offences.

A UK resident, who has not been named, is jailed for two years and one month – Ramsey man Lee Little receives two years and three months.

July 2021

• Two men from Ramsey are detained after collecting a package from Dogmills beach. Police find them in possession of 276 grams of heroin which had a street value of £69,200.

James Quayle and Niall Crowe admit possessing the Class A drug with intent to supply – Quayle also admits possessing criminal property.

Quayle is sentenced to eight and a half years in custody and Crowe receives five years and 10 months.

August 2021

• A microwave oven containing 248 grams of cocaine is delivered to Douglas resident Kirsty Quilliam – the drug had a street value of £24,780. It’s later collected by Thomas McBurnie who was apprehended leaving the area.

Quilliam was jailed for five years and eight months whilst McBurnie received seven years and 10 months.

September 2021

• Merseyside enforcer Shaun Buckley arrives on the Island to collect drug debts. He is apprehended and convicted of money laundering.

Police say he was on the Island seeking another man, Philip Nyamande, who when detained by officers was found to have £9620 hidden in his underwear.

Nyamande is convicted for conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Both men are jailed for nine months.

• Kyle Molyneux’s prison cell is searched and a mobile phone, issued by the prison, is found to contain an illicit sim card.

Data retrieved from the SIM card links the 27-year-old to all of the other individuals involved in Operation Achilles.

He was jailed yesterday (2 August) for 20 years.

Organised Criminality

Responding to the success of Operation Achilles Chief Constable Russ Foster said: “The quality of this proactive investigation has been truly outstanding and is a warning to all those involved in organised criminality.

“The professionalism, commitment and tenacity of the officers involved in bringing these perpetrators to justice is second to none.

“We will continue to do everything we possibly can to make the Isle of Man a hostile environment for these criminal networks to thrive and I am absolutely committed to investing resources to tackle serious and organised criminality.”