Father and son jailed for 24 years after police uncover huge £31.6 million cocaine operation

In a case that could be ripped from the pages of a gritty crime drama, a father and son from Manchester have been sentenced to nearly a quarter of a century behind bars after their staggering £31.6 million cocaine racket was dismantled by police.

Raymond Kinnear, 63, and his 23-year-old son Nathan orchestrated a sprawling drugs operation that came crashing down when officers raided an industrial unit and uncovered an astonishing haul: 70 bricks of cocaine weighing 45 kilograms, concealed in nothing more than two ordinary Sports Direct bags.

But the scale of their crimes extended far beyond this single seizure. Prosecutors revealed that over just a few months the pair were linked to an extraordinary 211 kilograms of cocaine. Valued wholesale at between six and eight million pounds, the street value rocketed to over £31 million, a figure that shocked communities and authorities alike.

Text messages, family connections, and a web of hotel bookings helped the prosecution paint a detailed picture of the duo’s criminal enterprise. Nathan played a crucial supporting role—acting as his father’s “backup” by arranging travel and providing vital manpower. When police descended on the premises at dawn, Nathan even tried to evade capture by jumping from a window.

Raymond’s criminal history cast a dark shadow over the proceedings, including a reckless driving conviction from the 1980s which resulted in a tragic death. His blatant disregard for the law and the consequences of his actions was clear, as was the impact of his leadership on his son.

Judge Neil Flewitt KC handed down sentences of 17 years for Raymond and just over seven for Nathan. The court heard how Raymond had drawn his son deep into a world of crime and destruction. Despite letters expressing remorse for his family, Raymond offered no apology for the havoc his operation wreaked on local communities battling addiction.

Tonight, the streets may feel a little safer. Yet questions remain—how many other families are running such vast drugs networks, and when will the police find them?