Huyton Firm had help of corrupt police insider nicknamed 'piggy'

A Huyton-based gang boss who led an international drugs cartel had a corrupt police insider who checked the internal database for updates.

His messages, which proved the extent of his drug-dealing empire, as well as his chilling plot to recover his stolen drugs and kill those responsible, led to his downfall. But evidence read out in his sentencing, back in 2022 but only reportable now that restrictions were lifted, may give some indication of how he managed to avoid police attention for so long.

When approached by the ECHO regarding the messages, Merseyside Police said its anti-corruption unit began investigating the potential police contact in 2020 following the arrests of many of the gang. A spokesperson for the force told the ECHO: "The Anti-Corruption Unit referred their investigation to the Independent Office of Police Complaints due to potential corruption of a police employee and the investigation became an IOPC Directed Investigation.

It’s likely that these supply routes that opened up the Coggins’ gang to receive shipments from anywhere in the world were a driving force in allowing the gang to build international power and reputation. Investigating police officers told the ECHO no port workers were identified or investigated as part of their operation.

Armed police also visited an address linked to Vincent Coggins to issue a disruption notice - a warning not to engage in any criminal activity. Undeterred, he continued to set in motion plans to kill Brian Maxwell Jr, as well as two other men he believed were involved - Michael Eves and Iyobosa ‘Bosa’ Igbinovia. On May 28 Jarvis messaged Vincent Coggins alleged evidence that the pair considered incriminating the three men even further in the robbery.

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