Police bust ‘tupperware’ gang who hid cocaine in containers on country lanes

Kane, of Coronilla Green, Gorleston, was sentenced to 10 years in prison at Norwich Crown Court after previously pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Judge Anthony Bate said he found the defendant had been performing a ‘leading role’ in the operation and was ‘well acquainted in class A drug dealing’.

Prosecutor Lori Tucker said Kane had been buying and selling drugs on a ‘commercial scale’, and his sentencing makes him the seventh person to be arrested from the drug gang after six other members of the group admitted their part in the conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Ashley Youngman, 34, Dominic Wilkins, 25, Hayder Gilgil, 20, Joe Drysdale, 31, Ben French, 49, and Michael Rushmer, 34, were jailed for a combined total of 25 years and 8 months between them.

The heads of that group were Marc Kane and Ashley Youngman, with Kane having ultimate control and whose number was saved in another drug dealer’s phone as ‘Corleone’ – a reference to ‘The Godfather’ novels and films.

The group used hedgerows in quiet country to stash cocaine in plastic pots, which they could later retrieve and sell.

Danielle O’Donovan, mitigating, said that Kane was ‘not a lone actor’ or ‘the lead actor in this enterprise’.

During the course of the investigation, surveillance of Kane and Youngman revealed the lengths the pair would go to evade detection – including hiding drugs in remote ‘stash sites’ until they were needed.

Police recovered cocaine worth hundreds of thousands of pounds from these sites. Both Kane and Youngman lived lavish lifestyles despite having no significant legitimate income.

Kane in particular flaunted his wealth, and following his arrest, his home address was searched, and designer clothing valued at £20,530 was seized.

Kane also used hire vehicles to move the drugs, and between January 2024 and his arrest in August 2024, had spent £5981 on car hire.

Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Eddie Hammond said: ‘Kane and Youngman saw themselves as ‘untouchable’ – the fact that they are both now behind bars is testament to months of hard work by dedicated officers.’

Six others were also sentenced.

Ashley Youngman, 34, of Cliff Hill, Gorleston, was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months imprisonment.Dominic Wilkins, 25, of South Quay, Great Yarmouth, was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment.

Hayder Gilgil, 20, of Anchor Court, Great Yarmouth, was sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment. Joe Drysdale, 31, of Beavans Court, Great Yarmouth, was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months imprisonment.

Ben French, 49, of Fritton Close, Lowestoft, was sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment. Michael Rushmer, 34, of HMP Norwich, was sentenced to 2 years and 8 months imprisonment.