Executive Summary
- Nine members of the “Ozone” OCG were jailed for drug supply, burglary, and blackmail in Blackpool.
- The gang impersonated police officers to raid rival cannabis farms, evidenced by photos found on seized devices.
- Ringleader Joshua Shaw received a 15-year sentence, while Mark Kirkwood was sentenced to over eight years.
- Operations were coordinated using Telegram and WhatsApp to evade detection.
Nine members of an organized crime syndicate known as the “Ozone” group have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to 15 years after investigations revealed they impersonated police officers to raid rival cannabis operations in Blackpool, according to court records filed in the United Kingdom.
Preston Crown Court heard that the gang, operational since 2021, utilized the encrypted messaging platform Telegram to advertise narcotics and WhatsApp to coordinate distribution across the Fylde coast. Lancashire Police reported that the investigation intensified following a violent incident in March 2024, where gang members armed with a machete and a baseball bat stormed a residence in Poulton-le-Fylde. According to prosecutors, the intruders demanded the location of a cannabis stash and threatened to firebomb the property while children slept upstairs.
Following the incident, law enforcement officials raided a warehouse on Whitegate Drive, discovering facilities specifically designed for storing and packaging cannabis. During the search, investigators seized mobile devices containing photographic evidence of gang members, including ringleader Joshua Shaw and associate Mark Kirkwood, wearing police uniforms and high-visibility jackets. Authorities confirmed these disguises were utilized to execute raids on other criminal enterprises to steal product.
Judicial proceedings resulted in substantial sentences for the group’s leadership. Joshua Shaw, 33, admitted to conspiracy to supply and import cannabis and was convicted of blackmail, receiving a 15-year sentence. Mark Kirkwood, 29, was sentenced to eight years and six months for blackmail, conspiracy to supply drugs, and assisting an organized crime group. Seven other members, including Cole Muir, received varying custodial sentences for their roles in the conspiracy.
Investigative Outlook
The dismantling of the Ozone group highlights the evolving tactics of modern criminal organizations, specifically the utilization of law enforcement disguises to conduct “taxing” operations on rival factions. By targeting other illegal operations, such groups attempt to minimize police reporting, creating a complex layer of criminality that requires specialized surveillance and digital forensics to unravel. The significant sentences handed down by the Preston Crown Court reflect the judiciary’s intent to deter the escalation of violence associated with turf wars and the misuse of public service imagery.
It is important to note that under the legal principles governing this database, all individuals discussed in arrest records are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
