One of the most ruthless gangs in town, brought down by Costco’s Frozen Crispy Duck

One of Merseyside’s most powerful gangs has been brought down by a packet of frozen crispy duck from Costco.

The organized crime ring led by Vincent and Francis Coggins was involved in the trafficking of hundreds of kilograms of Class A drugs worth millions of pounds across the country. The Huyton brothers also plotted a ruthless revenge of violence after a raid on their home by rival gangsters saw them lose around £1 million worth of illicit substances.

A series of court cases heard in the last four years have been subject to a media blackout until today, following the conclusion of the proceedings against the co-conspirator Edward Jarvis. Messages exchanged by the Coggins brothers and their associates via the encrypted communications platform EncroChat can now be detailed, having been aired during a number of trials and sentencing hearings.

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Conversations revealed after the network was infiltrated, French police in 2020 were able to identify Vincent as the user of the handle “MoonlitBoat”, while Francis was said to have used the usernames “TallCanine” and “MixedJet”. Paul Fitzsimmons was linked to the account ‘NorthKnee’ after naming his mother and children while chatting with associates, while Dean Burrows turned out to be ‘OliveScooter’ as he had given his home address and others referred to by his first name.

Similarly, Darren Tierney was called “Dazz” by others while using the handle “ScalpStaff”. The user also detailed how he had been driving a Citroen Berlingo, a van insured in his name to his sister’s address and in which he had previously been stopped by the police, and informed contacts that it was his birthday.

A whole stack of evidence saw Jarvis unmasked as ‘SoftHerb’, who mentioned the names of his children and grandchildren to his contacts. Paul Woodford, using “KingWasp”, also referred to him as “Jarvo”, while another handle, “MexicanNova”, referred to his daughter.

Meanwhile, Jarvis’ communications saw him send both “DestructiveTailor” and “FrostyBoom” the postcode for his Breckside Park address. He said to the latter: “I’ll wait for you on the road, fat, bald, just driving in the parking lot.”

A telling string of messages dated May 11, 2020 also identified him and Vincent Coggins. Their handles texted each other about visiting Costco that day, after which Jarvis’ personal cell phone connected to a mast covering the wholesale store.

Around the same time, Coggins’ Costco membership was used to complete two separate transactions — each for a package of frozen flavored crispy duck. Shortly after 7 p.m., their two Encro phones began communicating again to “discuss cooking instructions for the duck they had purchased” and whether their purchase could be “cooked from frozen or not.”

Coggins also wished Jarvis many happy returns on his birthday and asked if his son-in-law, who was an executive at a plumbing and heating firm, could visit to drain his radiators. Meanwhile, Jarvis sent his boss a picture of himself enjoying the sun in the back garden, to which Coggins replied “haha you look like a beach” before referencing his partner.

Vincent Coggins, 58, also of Woodpecker Close in West Derby, Paul Woodford, 58, of Marl Road in Kirkby, and Michael Earle, 48, of Wallace Drive in Huyton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and conspiracy to commit blackmail. They were jailed for 28 years, 28 and a half years and 11 years respectively.

Dean Borrows, 39, also of Ledson Grove in Aughton, Darren Tierney, 46, of Chatham Street in Stockport, Paul Fitzsimmons, 60, of Birch Tree Court in West Derby , admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin. They were handed terms of 14 years and three months, 12 years and nine months and 12 and a half years.

Kevin Rimmer, of Blacklow Brow in Huyton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin. The 57-year-old man was imprisoned for 16 years.

Paul Glynn, of Croxdale Road West in West Derby, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine. The 59-year-old man received 11 years and two months.

Edward Jarvis, of Breckside Park in Anfield, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and blackmail. The 59-year-old will be sentenced at a later date.

Francis Coggins has not yet been caught but is wanted by the North West Regional Organized Crime Unit. He is believed to be abroad in Europe.

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