POLICE have used digitally aged images of jailed Orford drugs gang twin brothers Anthony and Leon Cullen on a van going out across Warrington today, to send a clear message to those who chose to, or are looking to be involved in organised crime.
Using digital technology polcie showed what the twins are likely to look like when they are released from prison.
Detective Chief Inspector Mike Evans, from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit and who takes over as Superintendent for Warrington local policing unit on Monday, said: “The Cullen brothers have been a driving force for organised crime in Warrington for many years. However there was only one way they were headed and that was always going to be behind bars serving significant sentences.
“People may think it’s a quick and easy way to earn money to lead a lavish lifestyle but that is far from the reality. The consequences of being involved in the supply of drugs and firearms are worlds away from that and instead you become embroiled in violence and debt and are constantly looking over your shoulder.
“Leon and Anthony will leave prison a lot older, they will miss out on being around their family, be under constant watch by the authorities when released, they will always be paying back what they profited from under their criminality and we’ll be relentless in searching for their hidden assets to recover them.
“Young men will at one time have looked up to them but now we want them to look at them in a different light and see the true reality of where organised crime takes you. Is it really worth it?”
Leon Cullen was extradited from the United Arab Emirates and brought back to Cheshire on 19 February 2021.
Yesterday, Friday, he was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court to 22 years and six months prison, after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to supply firearms, conspiracy to possess ammunition and conspiracy to supply cocaine.
Cullen, aged 33, previously of Honister Avenue in Orford, fled after detectives uncovered the criminal organised drugs gang enterprise he was operating alongside his twin brother Anthony.
The business was centred on supplying cocaine and firearms to other organised crime groups across the North West. The brothers would operate through the use of violence in order to intimidate and exert control towards those they believed had crossed them as well as to enforce debts.
The pair used a front business, Future Press Ltd, to launder money profited from their drugs network. Between June 2016 and January 2018 detectives believe more than 50kg of cocaine was supplied to dealers in Cheshire, Bangor in North Wales and in the North East.
Police also seized a total of £205,680 cash and 2 1/4kg of a kilo of cocaine during a series of strikes as part of the 18-month covert investigation.
Anthony was arrested on 10 January 2018 along with 19 of his and Leon’s associates. They were jailed a year later for a total of 185 years – Anthony was given a 27 year sentence.
Today we have a digital van travelling around Warrington to send a clear message to those who involve themselves in, or want to be part of organised crime.
We want you to see the true reality of where organised crime takes you.
Is it really worth it?https://t.co/9udhsBD76i pic.twitter.com/z8HuStSVpZ
— Cheshire Police (@cheshirepolice) May 15, 2021
Orford drugs and firearms gang leader Leon Cullen jailed for more than 22 years
