Van bearing aged pictures of Cullen brothers tours Warrington

A digital van bearing the images of twins Leon and Anthony Cullen – who headed up a drugs and firearms gang which netted them up to £290,000 per month before the cocaine ring’s downfall – has toured the town today, Saturday.

And the vehicle will continue to visit busy spots over the coming week.

It comes after Leon, formerly of Honister Avenue in Orford, was handed 22-and-a-half years behind bars at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday after admitting offences including conspiracy to supply firearms and cocaine.

Anthony, of Colemere Close in Padgate, was caged for 27 years in 2019 after being convicted of the same charges.

Detective chief inspector Mike Evans, head of Cheshire Police’s serious and organised crime unit, will take up the post of superintendent in Warrington from next week – replacing predecessor Simon Meegan.

He said: “The Cullen brothers have been a driving force for organised crime in Warrington for many years.

“However there was only one way they were headed, and that was always going to be behind bars serving significant sentences.

“People may think it’s a quick and easy way to earn money to lead a lavish lifestyle, but that is far from the reality.

“The consequences of being involved in the supply of drugs and firearms are worlds away from that, and instead you become embroiled in violence and debt and are constantly looking over your shoulder.

“Leon and Anthony will leave prison a lot older – they will miss out on being around their family and be under constant watch by the authorities when released.

“They will always be paying back what they profited from under their criminality, and we’ll be relentless in searching for their hidden assets to recover them.

“Young men will at one time have looked up to them, but now we want them to look at them in a different light and see the true reality of where organised crime takes you.

“Is it really worth it?”