Thirteen people have been sentenced to more than 80 years in prison for their roles in organised crime conspiracies involving flooding South Devon with illegal drugs and kidnapping.
Dittisham man Edward Stoddart, 38, of Manor Street, received the longest sentence, 12 years, plus an additional six months for illegally possessing a mobile phone in prison.
Natasha Yates, 33, and Martin Trant, 43, both of Hayes Road, Totnes, were sentenced at Exeter Crown Court on July 20, 2025, and received suspended sentences for their roles in the abduction of Ben Haigh in November 2024.
Haigh, who worked for drug dealer Leon Harding, 22, was threatened over money and drugs he was believed to owe. He was forced into a car in Brixham by Yates and Trant before being transferred to another vehicle carrying Harding, Kiara Banks, 21, and Corey Murphy, 21.
Police pursued the vehicle and rescued Haigh unharmed. Harding, Banks and Murphy were also sentenced for their involvement in the kidnapping.
The sentences form part of Operation Midriver, a major investigation into conspiracies to supply Class A and B drugs across the South West.
The wider investigation uncovered two overlapping drug supply conspiracies, with evidence gathered from thousands of communications, 38 mobile phones and more than 50,000 messages, alongside financial enquiries and police interventions.
Stoddart admitted six offences at Exeter Crown Court in August 2024, including conspiracies to supply Class A drugs and amphetamines between July 2023 and June 2024, possession of ecstasy, synthetic cannabis and cannabis, and possession of criminal property.
Police linked him to a storage unit in Ashburton and drugs stored at a caravan where officers discovered more than £400,000-worth of substances, including 4.5kg of cocaine, 474.62g of heroin, large amounts of cutting agent, and 659.17g of MDMA.
The second conspiracy, which operated between October 2023 and May 2025, involved the supply of heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and cannabis, particularly around Torquay and further into the South West.
Harding was described as a central organiser, running a network supplying other dealers as well as street-level sellers. Drugs uncovered during this phase had a wholesale value of more than £3million.
A separate investigation also established that James Barry, 44, of Paignton, and George Langford, 21, of Paignton, worked together to import cannabis from North America.
Investigators identified 94 parcels through tracking references on their phones, with 24 seized by Border Force. The pair were estimated to have imported almost 250kg of cannabis.
Barry was jailed for four years and eight months in April 2026. Langford received six years and nine months.
Detective Chief Inspector Adam Worth, of Devon and Cornwall Police's Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said the investigation demonstrated the force's determination to dismantle criminal networks.
“This was a substantial and complex investigation involving detectives and a wide range of specialist policing teams, including intelligence, covert policing, digital investigations and financial investigators,” he said. “Their collective efforts, alongside our close partnership with the CPS Complex Case Unit, ensured those responsible were brought to justice.”
He warned that organised crime caused significant harm to communities and that those involved risked lengthy prison sentences and lasting consequences for their futures.
Three further defendants have pleaded guilty to drug supply charges and are awaiting sentencing.
Full Sentencing List:
The following individuals have been convicted of various charges relating to the supply and production of Class A and Class B drugs and sentenced over various dates – the most recent of which being Thursday 8 October.
- Edward Stoddart, 38, of Manor Street, Dittisham, sentenced to 12 years plus a further six months for the illegal possession of a mobile phone in prison.
- Leon Harding, 22, of Queen Elizabeth Drive, Paignton, sentenced to eight years and four months.
- David Barnes, 76, of Plymouth Road, Buckfastleigh, sentenced to 45 months.
- Matthew Villiers, 48, of Hill Park Road, Torquay, sentenced to five years and 10 months.
- Keeley Nurden, 54, of Pettits Road, Dagenham, sentenced to four and a half years.
- Daimian Sloan, 40, from Torquay, sentenced to 40 months.
- Daniel Passmore, 45 from Princes Road, Torquay, sentenced to seven years.
- Corey Murphy, 21, from Paignton, sentenced to eight years and nine months.
- Kiara Banks, 21, of Barnfield Road, Paignton, sentenced to five years and nine months.
- Finley Gribble, 24, of Oaklands Park, Buckfastleigh, sentenced to four and a half years and three months for the possession of a lock knife.
- George Langford, 21, of New Park Road, Paignton, sentenced to six years and nine months.
- Shane Cozens, 28, of Hoyles Road, Paignton, sentenced to seven years and two months.
- Ben Haigh, 32, from Torbay, sentenced to 33 months.
James Barry, 44, of Marldon Road, Paignton, sentenced to four years eight months at Exeter Crown Court on 28 April 2026 for what the judge described as a “highly sophisticated operation” in which Barry held a “senior and heavily trusted position”.
The following three defendants have entered guilty pleas to drug supply charges and will be sentenced at a later date.
- Kaiden Edwards, 21, of Ramshill Road, Paignton.
- Vanda Galamba, 50, of Stour Road, Dagenham, Essex.
- Luke Barbour, 39, from Torbay.
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