All eight criminals pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs
Emma Butterworth
09:07, 10 Feb 2026
Paul Lockyer, James Neary, Paul McArdle, Stephen Lynch, Lee Nugent, Julie McCafferty, Christopher Horrocks and Michelle Higgins
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Paul Lockyer, James Neary, Paul McArdle, Stephen Lynch, Lee Nugent, Julie McCafferty, Christopher Horrocks and Michelle Higgins
Eight members of a Merseyside drugs gang who offered a special discount on cocaine to mark the release of a Liverpool FC footballer’s kidnapped father have been jailed for more than 63 years. Following the release of Luis Diaz’s father in November 2023 - who had been held captive for 13 days by Colombian guerrillas - it was discovered that the group had offered discounts to 9,000 customers.
In a message sent on their 'graft phone' the group wrote: “3 for £75 for the next hour to celebrate Luis Diaz dad getting released in the Colombian jungle." Following an investigation by the specialist Merseyside Organised Crime Partnership – comprising of officers from the National Crime Agency and Merseyside Police - the group were jailed yesterday (February 9) for a total of 63 years and eight months in prison.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that 42-year-old Paul Lockyer, of Selworthy Road, Birkdale, had played a leading role in the group, and was known by his co-conspirators as “the big fella". His accomplice James Neary, 57, of no fixed abode, is also said to have worked with a network of people to produce, sell and supply two variants of cocaine – including high-purity ‘flake’ and adulterated ‘mix’ – across Liverpool.
Other members of the group are said to have worked shifts to fulfil hundreds of orders for the drug, and officers believe Lockyer had used the profits to fund a luxury lifestyle of designer jewellery, clothes, and expensive cars. However, he was unaware that OCP investigators were collecting evidence and had observed members meeting to collect drugs and exchange the 'graft' phone they used to take orders.
According to the National Crime Agency, Paul McArdle, 33, of Buckfast Close, Netherton, was one of the main operators of the phone and organised cocaine deliveries. Christopher Horrocks, 46, of Buckley Hill Lane, Sefton, and 38-year-old Stephen Lynch, of Keene Court, Netherton, managed drug deals and the re-stocking of cocaine. Horrocks was additionally responsible for topping up the phone to ensure it was always in action.
Michelle Higgins, 39, looked after a central store of cocaine at her home address on Clock Tower Drive, Liverpool, which is also where orders were prepared. Lee Nugent, 46, of Church Road, Sefton, was a dealer while his partner Julie McCafferty, 43, helped run the graft phone, prepared drugs and instructed group members where to deliver them.
Following raids carried out by Merseyside Police on May 6 2025, all eight members were arrested. Throughout the investigation, officers recovered cocaine with a street value of around £89k, as well equipment to mix drugs and approximately £3,500 cash believed to be profit from drugs sales.
On the graft phone, investigators found more than 9,000 contacts which are believed to belong to customers. They recovered thousands of messages detailing hundreds of drugs sales a day, including one AI-generated video which featured the group promoting a discount on ‘flake’ for Christmas.
In his evidence for the case, a drugs expert stated that he had “never encountered a drugs line as well run”, with it being estimated that the group dealt at least 9.9kg of cocaine, and made upwards of £620,000 from deals between October 2023 and May 2025.
NCA Senior Manager Jon Hughes of Merseyside OCP, said: “The group’s criminal enterprise was like a fast food delivery service for drugs, with cocaine rapidly dispatched to hundreds of people every day and promotions offered that would keep people coming back for more.
“The cocaine trade causes significant harm, including fuelling horrendous violence on our streets. Every order this group fulfilled, caused more harm to people and communities in Liverpool. It’s really significant that we have shut down Lockyer’s illicit business and ensured its members are now behind bars.”
All eight criminals pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs on 10 June 2025.
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