Mar.31, 2010, 7:00 am

POLICE have notched up a major victory in the battle against drugs after smashing a huge cannabis and cocaine ring.

Detective Inspector Simon Brooksbank, who led a 12-month undercover operation into the gang, said the county was now a ‘safer place’.

More than 100 officers took part in the investigation, which saw drugs worth around half a million pounds and £96,000 in cash seized.

Twelve members of the gang, led by Richard Wynn, of Ravenoak Lane, Worsthorne, pleaded guilty to offences including conspiracy to supply drugs and money laundering.

Two other people were found guilty after trials at Preston Crown Court.

Wynn, 34, described by judge Norman Wright as the ‘Mr Big’, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a class A drug, conspiracy to supply cann-abis and money laundering.

His dad Shaun Wynn, 54, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a class A drug and cannabis.

Andrew Donachie, 50, of Taylor Street, Rawtenstall, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis and money laundering.

Mr Brooksbank, of the Organised and Serious Crime Unit, said: “Lancashire is a safer place now Wynn and his criminal associates are off the streets and drugs won’t be as readily available as they were before his incarcer-ation. This is massively important for the people of Lancashire.”

Police and the Inland Revenue are now preparing a ‘thorough financial investigation’ into the Wynn family business, Northern Transits, in Rishton.

Police began monitoring Wynn, 34, in 2008 and bugged his BMW M3 to record his phone calls.

They heard Wynn talking about cash and drugs. Around £50,000 was seized from a Ford Ka connected to the gang and £5,000 from a Vauxhall Vivaro van.

Cocaine worth £238,000 and cannabis resin worth £115,000 were also seized on another occasion.

Police said Wynn, who lived in a £250,000 house with his wife and two children, had never declared any income, yet drove round in a BMW and spent thousands on holidays.

Carl Wrend, 29, of Leigh, Darren Brennand, 44, of Lancaster, Mark Midgley, 35, of Lytham, and Adam Sotheron, 26, of Salford, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Paul Shiel, 40, of Westhoughton, pleaded guilty to supply cannabis and possession of a class C drug with intent to supply.

Garry Waring, 41, of Leyland, pleaded guilty to supply a class A drug and money laundering.

Bledar Bajraktari, 28, of London, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a class A drug.

Andrew Thornton, 22, of Bolton, pleaded guilty to possession of a class B drug with intent to supply.

Another man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis and money laundering.

Stephen James, 44, of Hebden Bridge, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cannabis and money laundering, and Scott Taylor, 38, of Preston, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply a class A drug.

Neil Davies, 29, of Bolton, was found not guilty of conspiracy to supply cannabis.

A date for sentencing has not been set.