Sentencing looms for gang who hid drugs and guns in Mansfield storage containers

The investigation found that members of the gang were given access to different storage containers depending on their position in the group.

They were then peddling Class A and B drugs such as heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine, MDMA and cannabis to street dealers, predominantly in the Mansfield area but also as wide ranging as Hertfordshire and Wales.

Detectives worked tirelessly to dismantle the gang's activity following a lengthy investigation which began in August 2025.

Members of the gang were making multiple trips to the storage containers, where they were observed delivering and collecting packages, boxes and cash.

One of the key players, Leah Hopkinson, was seen attending the site, sometimes up to four times a day during a three month period handing items to both Anthony Lumley and Brennan Hayes and latterly Lee Shipman after the arrest of both Hayes and Lumley.

The investigation believes that Hopkinson was dealing up to 600 wraps a day of Class A and B drugs to street dealers.

Hopkinson, who worked as a community care co-ordinator, was often seen in her carers uniform, carrying out these drug deals between working appointments.

Other members of the gang included ringleader Jamie Smith as well as Justin Gibson and Kieran Rimmer who moved items from container to container.

Smith was also seen moving large amounts of cash.

In November 2025, moments before a warrant was executed by police, Smith was observed moving firearms between two storage containers.

During the warrant on all five containers, officers seized a large quantity of cash and drugs, five firearms, ammunition, knives including a machete, and drug dealing equipment including a drug press, scales, mixing agents, and packaging consistent with wholesale amounts.

The defendants' properties were also searched.

At the home address of Smith and his partner Shannon Lee Shaw in Breckbank in Mansfield, evidence was located including a drugs line phone.

Overall officers seized a large quantity of cash, mobile phones and sim cards, firearms, a machete, and a hoard of designer clothing along with thousands of pounds of motorbikes.

They also located a mobile phone, wrapped in clingfilm and hidden behind a fence, which exposed the drugs line in Smith's messages.

In total, £48,038 of cash was recovered from the five containers and the addresses and an estimated £746,000 of drugs on enforcement day alone.

Gibson, who also made trips to the containers, was detained with more than £15,000, which was recovered from his vehicle after an exchange was made with another man in Ware, Hertfordshire.

Jack Smith was also arrested where police uncovered cocaine, MDMA and cannabis in his own container at the yard.

Lumley and Hayes were arrested after leaving the container yard and running from police. Hayes was detained with crack cocaine and heroin along with the drugs phone.

Business continued that day when the calls from drug users was immediately diverted to Lee Shipman and his driver.

Lee Shipman was stopped with more than £500 in the company of his chauffeur as they were on their way to the containers. However, police had already taken control of all the units.

Detective Inspector James McDonagh, who leads the serious organised crime task force at Nottinghamshire Police, said: "This was a complex and sophisticated operation.

"The gang used five storage containers, with different levels of access, depending on the person's role within the gang.

"For example, one of the containers was used to store money, another was used for storing drugs and firearms, and the others to package the drugs and deal from.

"They hoped that being able to offer the gang different levels of access would ultimately help them protect their drug and money supply and inevitably evade arrest.

"But they were wrong. Our team of experienced detectives were able to foil their plans and build up an overwhelming case against them.

"Hopkinson was a key player and would often turn up to the storage containers in her carers uniform, handling drugs at the same time she should have been looking after the community. Instead, she was financially gaining from the most vulnerable drug users.

"Smith, who was one of the ringleaders, is now living a very different lifestyle to the one he had before our enforcement activity.

"Drugs destroy communities and the gang showed no remorse for the lives they will have undoubtedly ruined in Mansfield as a result of this operation, fuelled only by greed.

"We now await the judge's sentencing on September 23 and 24."