Francis Coggins, the 60-year-old co-leader of the notorious Huyton Firm drug gang, has been jailed for 18 years for masterminding a sophisticated operation that imported over a tonne of Class A drugs worth more than £16m from the Netherlands. Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday how Coggins used fraudulently obtained UPS account numbers to ship cocaine and heroin to the UK over just one year.
The sentencing marks a major breakthrough in dismantling one of Merseyside's most feared organised crime groups, which employed Thomas Cashman, the killer of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel. Coggins pleaded guilty to six drugs charges after his arrest in June this year by Dutch police for being drunk and disorderly in Zandvoort, a coastal town near Amsterdam. He was extradited to the UK in August.
Prosecutor Alex Langhorn told Liverpool Crown Court: «The OCG which were engaged in sourcing, storing and supplying wholesale, multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine and diamorphine, more commonly known as heroin. They sold to people locally on Merseyside, across the country, and up to Scotland.»
Sophisticated smuggling system
Francis Coggins operated from the Netherlands, using what the court described as a "considered and sophisticated system" to import drugs. He exploited genuine UPS account numbers, predominantly from clothing company G-Star Raw, to ship parcels to a North Wales depot. A corrupt UPS employee intercepted the shipments for onward distribution.
Langhorn explained: «Francis Coggins, based in the Netherlands, organised the importation of drugs being supplied by the group. Vincent Coggins, although kept up to date with when importations were due to arrive, was focused on the domestic operation, the supply of cocaine and diamorphine in England and Wales.»
The gang's operations were revealed through encrypted EncroChat messages, where Francis used the handles "TallCanine" and "MixedJet". During a three-month period in spring and early summer 2020, the gang supplied around 350 kilos of drugs and collected over £880,000 in cash over just two weeks.
Brother jailed for 28 years
Francis's younger brother Vincent Coggins, 59, who used the EncroChat handle "MoonLitBoat", was jailed for 28 years in 2024 for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and blackmail. Vincent was arrested in June 2020 alongside eight other gang members as part of Operation SubZero by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit.
Prosecutors described the brothers as «equals, each with their own areas of responsibility». Vincent led a violent blackmail campaign after £1m worth of cocaine was stolen from one of their stash houses on Croxdale Road West in West Derby on May 23, 2020.
Defense counsel Sam Blom-Cooper argued Francis played a subordinate role, claiming: «The overall decision maker was Vincent Coggins.» He suggested Francis was involved in «physical handling» of drugs in the Netherlands while exposing himself to greater risk.
Judge Robert Trevor-Jones rejected this mitigation. Addressing Francis Coggins via video link from HMP Manchester, the judge stated: «In conclusion, you were directing or organising the buying and or selling of these drugs on a commercial scale. You had substantial links and influence on others in a chain and you had an expectation of a substantial financial advantage.»
Son remains at large
A significant development remains unresolved: Francis Coggins' 40-year-old son, Francis Parker, who used the EncroChat handle "FigZoo", is still wanted by police. Authorities believe he may be in Holland or Spain.
Detective Chief Inspector David Worthington, who led Operation SubZero, told the ECHO this week: «While Francis Coggins' sentencing represents the dismantling of the group's leadership, one individual, Francis Parker, 40, from Huyton, connected to the case remains wanted. We believe he may be abroad in Holland or Spain. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.»
Worthington emphasized the scale of the achievement: «We have taken out the heads of the crime group and we've taken out some real key, significant players within that group that were well trusted and well organised. I do feel like we have dismantled the group.»
The total sentences for Operation SubZero now exceed 170 years. All nine members arrested with Vincent Coggins in June 2020 are now serving prison sentences. Francis Coggins mumbled «thank you» in court after learning his 18-year sentence.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
