Drone Crash Exposes Nottingham Drug Network, Nine Sentenced

Nine jailed after a drone crash exposes a Nottingham drug network led by inmates Daniel Yeboah and Shaun Lau, who smuggled fentanyl and cocaine into prisons and the community.

Drone Crash Leads to Major Drug Network Bust

Nine individuals have been sentenced following a thwarted attempt to smuggle drugs into a prison via drone, which ultimately enabled police to dismantle a significant trafficking network.

The two primary leaders, Daniel Yeboah and Shaun Lau, were identified as career criminals who orchestrated their operations from separate prisons, directing their associates in Nottingham "from the comfort of their cells."

Nottinghamshire Police Custody photos show Lau and Yeboah in front of green backgrounds — Shaun Lau and Daniel Yeboah ran drug-dealing networks from separate prisons

Yeboah, aged 43, coordinated the importation of cocaine and fentanyl, a highly dangerous opioid, by enlisting a great-grandmother to receive a delivery disguised as cookies at her suburban residence.

Nottinghamshire Police Cocaine that looks like biscuits in police evidence bags — Yeboah arranged for this imported cocaine disguised as biscuits to be shipped to a great-grandmother in West Bridgford

Lau, 37, managed street-level dealers in Nottingham and facilitated the smuggling of drugs and mobile phones into his prison to distribute among inmates.

Investigation Triggered by Drone Incident

The investigation intensified after accomplices Hayley Price, 38, and her daughter Kaci-Leigh Stones, 20, traveled from Nottingham to deliver drugs to Lau in August 2023.

A security camera recorded them retrieving a drone that had crashed into a tree while attempting to fly it over the fence of HMP Parc in Bridgend, South Wales.

Nottinghamshire Police Price has long brown hair — Hayley Price was arrested after the drone crashed outside HMP Parc in South Wales

Police intercepted them shortly after, recovering cannabis wrapped in cling film, mobile phones, SIM cards, and drone components.

Detectives revealed that messages found on the suspects' phones "unravelled" the investigation, linking Price to multiple dealers including Lau, whom she referred to as "the boss."

A search of Price's home in Sherwood uncovered traces of heroin, cocaine, cannabis, MDMA, as well as drug packaging and scales.

Wholesale Drug Control Hub Uncovered

Detective Inspector James McDonagh of Nottinghamshire Police described the location as a "wholesale control hub" for drug dealers operating across Nottingham and surrounding areas.

Nottinghamshire Police DI McDonagh is wearing a dark suit and tie — Det Insp James McDonagh led the investigation

McDonagh identified Yeboah as Price's supplier, noting that he was a convicted drug trafficker nearing the end of his sentence at HMP Buckley Hall in Rochdale.

"This is a man who, whilst in his cell, was still controlling the drugs market within Nottinghamshire,"

McDonagh said.

"He's arranging importations to addresses within Nottinghamshire. He was boasting about supplying a 'super-heroin' and that was going to be laced with fentanyl."

Authorities expressed particular concern over fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid responsible for numerous deaths in the United States.

Community Concerns Over Fentanyl

Kieran Grant from the Nottingham Recovery Network highlighted the rarity of fentanyl in the UK but noted long-standing concerns among drug services.

Kieran is smiling and wearing an orange shirt — Kieran Grant from the Nottingham Recovery Network says fentanyl was a major concern

"We are worried about fentanyl taking over the streets because it's up to 50 times stronger than heroin,"

Grant stated.

"It could have a massive impact on drug-related deaths in the city and nationally, and the low-quality heroin that's around at the moment, if it's laced with fentanyl, it could be fatal in one dose."

Family Involvement in Drug Operations

Some of Yeboah's imported drugs were sent to Hayley Price's 61-year-old mother in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.

Detectives reported that Angela Price was paid £250 to accept a parcel of cocaine disguised as cookies originating from Trinidad and Tobago.

At Nottingham Crown Court, it was revealed that Price, a great-grandmother, prepared supplies of cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and fentanyl for wholesalers and street dealers.

Continued Operations Despite Custody

Both Lau and Yeboah were released during the police investigation and continued their drug trafficking activities outside prison.

They were arrested in coordinated raids in March at Yeboah's residence in St Anns, Nottingham, and a property where Lau was staying in Pinxton, Derbyshire.

Prosecutor Laura Blackband described the operation's "scale and reach" as vast and criticized the prison system for allowing such activities.

"It is shameful that Yeboah and Lau were able to operate significant drug trafficking operations from the comfort of their cells,"

Blackband said.

"The cases of Lau and Yeboah provide a damning reflection of the prison service and private companies who are paid very substantial amounts of money to run them.

"Illicit mobile phones are too readily available to prisoners, the market for illegal drugs booming.

"Defendants such as Lau and Yeboah see incarceration as a lucrative business opportunity."

Judicial Remarks and Sentencing

The sentencing judge, His Honour Stuart Rafferty KC, characterized Yeboah and Lau as "established figures of the Nottingham drug scene" and part of a "tidal wave of offending that continues to engulf the country."

He condemned their ability to control drug supply chains while imprisoned as "nothing short of a disgrace," highlighting the "porous" nature of the prison system.

The judge described their introduction of fentanyl as "cynical and sinister," warning that users face not only poisoning but also death.

He added that Yeboah regularly imported drugs from the US and the Far East, arranging at least one shipment of fentanyl valued at £1,000 per ounce.