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Three men have been jailed for a total of more than 20 years at Bristol Crown Court after admitting to drug supply offenses at an earlier hearing. The court heard that the three were part of an organized crime group that brought heroin and cocaine to Bristol.

On Friday 11 November 2022 officers stopped a vehicle on the northbound M5 in South Gloucestershire and found almost £60,000 in cash. Investigations showed that the vehicle had been driven from Liverpool to Bristol earlier that day.

Subsequent investigations led officers to search an address in Hartcliffe and seize just over 6kg of heroin and 377g of cocaine with a combined street value of over £630,000.

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They also found 3 kg of a cutting agent used to increase the amount of heroin and increase the profit margin of the traffickers. Three men were arrested the same day on suspicion of drug offences, charged, and appeared in court on the following Monday, November 14, 2022:

• Lee Wood, 34, of Queen Charlotte Street, Bristol, admitted to being concerned about heroin and cocaine supplies, acquiring/using/possessing criminal property, driving while disabled and driving without insurance.
• Wade Gwyther, 27, of Kenmare Avenue, Bristol, pleaded guilty to being involved in the supply of heroin and cocaine.
• Peter Woods, 33, of Clavell Road, Liverpool, the driver of the vehicle stopped on the M5, admitted to being concerned about the supply of heroin and cocaine and acquiring/using/possessing criminal property.

On Friday (March 17) all three appeared at Bristol Crown Court for sentencing:

• Lee Wood was jailed for 10 years
• Wade Gwyther was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison.
• Peter Woods was jailed for four years and eight months

Judge Edward Burgess described it as a “well-organized criminal network operating at a high level” and found that Wood had played a prominent role in directing and organizing the supply of heroin and cocaine on a “commercial scale”.

Detective Chief Inspector Adam Smith said: “This sentence acknowledges that these individuals were important figures in an organized crime group that brought drugs into our city.

“We take specific actions like this because we see firsthand the damage wholesalers like these men cause to individuals and our communities. Lives are ruined and communities suffer from the anti-social behavior and purchasing crime that go hand in hand with the illegal drug trade.”

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