Derry man jailed for four years over role in 'significant' cross-border drug ring worth 200k

A Derry man who was part of a 'cross border organised crime gang involved in large amounts of drugs and cash' has been jailed at the local Crown Court after the court was told he was owed drug money to the value of £200,000.

Jack Terence Boyd (28) whose address was given as Maghaberry Prison was sentenced for seven charges involving being concerned in the supply of class A and class B drugs, supplying drugs and possession on dates between May 2024 and July 27 2024.

A prosecution barrister told the court that this case didn't involve 'street dealing' but commercial quantities of drugs and substantial amounts of cash often in six figures.

He told the court that upon detection Boyd had a 'strap list' of money owed to him for drug deals of £200,000.

A defence counsel Michael Wilson told the court his client had become 'intertwined' with organised criminals. 

Judge Roseanne McCormick KC said that the offending came to light after Boyd was stopped on May 4 2024 and a mobile phone seized.

An examination of the phone revealed 'substantial evidence' of drug dealing with organised crime and cross border links involving 'kilos of drugs'.

The defendant was released on bail and on July 26 he was seen driving and followed to an address where two more phones were seized and a small quantity of drugs found as well as a sum of money.

Again there was substantial evidence of continuing drugs supply.

He told police he was acting 'under duress' from paramilitaries and recounted how he had been taken away by them and assaulted. 

Judge McCormick said Boyd had 26 previous convictions, six of them for drugs and said at one point he was spending £1,000 a day on his own drug habit.

She said he claimed that at one stage he could not complete a probation order due to threats.

Describing Boyd as having a 'chaotic lifestyle' the judge said he claimed he had become addicted to drugs at 14-years-old .

The judge said this was a 'very significant commercial drugs operation' but added that Boyd would get credit for his guilty plea.

He was sentenced to four years in prison half to be spent in custody half on licence.

A sum of 2,000 euros found in the case was ordered to be donated to HURT.