Drug dealer who 'worked for US rapper 50 Cent' part of gang jailed for over 160 years for cocaine trafficking

By ANDY DOLAN, GENERAL REPORTER Published: 13:06, 23 July 2026 | Updated: 13:12, 23 July 2026 Thirteen people – including one said to work as part of touring staff for US rapper 50 Cent – have been jailed for a combined total of more than 160 years for their part in a drugs conspiracy. The group were responsible for bringing multiple kilos of high purity cocaine into Derbyshire, which was then distributed to customers and other dealers for onward supply. The drugs brought into Derby were distributed to multiple organised crime groups – including two headed by Dominic Hulland and Aaron O'Donnell, with Harninder Purewal also being a facilitator above them both. Another defendant, Tony Lewis, was also involved at a high level, while others were capable of facilitating the supply of multi kilos of Class A drugs. The East Midlands Special Operations Unit investigation took place over a period of months, with officers evidencing transfers of cocaine and criminal cash between the large network of organised criminals. Samir Hassan was involved in the large-scale conspiracy in relation to money laundering and national cocaine trafficking.  Living in London, he travelled all around the country, largely via train, to collect large amounts of criminal cash. Hassan claimed to work in the music business and told the court he was part of the touring staff for US rapper 50 Cent. Derbyshire Police said Hassan's defence team even produced a letter from 50 Cent  - whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III - to the court, seeking bail variations for Hassan so that he could accompany him on his European tour. Samir Hassan's lawyers produced a letter from rapper 50 Cent, seeking bail variations so Hassan could accompany the US star on his European tour 50 Cent pictured at the premier of the 'Fightland' TV series  in New York on Tuesday Hassan, 37, of Shepherd's Bush, West London, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and possession of criminal property and jailed for 18 years and six months alongside his co-defendants at Derby Crown Court. A judge was told Lewis, who also supplied significant amounts of heroin, dealt with criminals in the UK and abroad, regularly travelling to Dubai as part of his criminal activities.  His Dubai based associate would facilitate the importation of Class A drugs into the UK and Lewis was then responsible for the distribution of both cocaine and heroin across the UK and into Scotland, as well as the collection of the criminal proceeds, most of which was arranged remotely by him directing others via his phone. O'Donnell, of Sinfin, Derby, bought and supplied large quantities of cocaine through Purewal. In May 2024, as part of the operation, officers carried out a warrant at the home address of O'Donnell's trusted associate, Joshua Keyland. O'Donnell was caught in the process of preparing 10 kilograms of cocaine for onward sale and the pair, along with another trusted associate, Jordan Hudson, were arrested. Investigations found that the cocaine had been delivered to O'Donnell by Nasar Ali and Usman Majeed, both from Manchester. Both Majeed and Ali have been convicted and sentenced earlier this year in relation to Class A drug offences, with the estimated amount supplied agreed to be between 1,600 to 2,400kgs. Majeed was jailed for more than 15 years while Ali received over 11 years. Amanda Hutchinson and Kyle Steadman were both customers of O'Donnell's Sinfin group, buying wholesale quantities of cocaine to sell on. Top left to bottom right: Tony Lewis, Lucas Sankey, Max Bowler, Alan Hulland, Jordan Hudson and Dominic Hulland Left to right: Nicholas Cleary, Valentino Talic, Harninder Purewal, Joshua Keyland, Kyle Steadman and Aaron O'Donnell Dominic Hulland, from Chaddesden, Derby, had access to both national and regional suppliers, including Purewal and Lewis, and was responsible for the supply of multiple kilos of cocaine.  He also had his own network of trusted associates to help him store, prepare and supply the cocaine – including customers Lucas Sankey and Valentino Talic. Officers also seized just under £70k in cryptocurrency from Hulland. On occasion he would collect his share of cocaine from O'Donnell's property, showing that while the two men ran separate enterprises independently of one another, they operated like business associates to enable each other's criminal operations to coexist and be profitable. All of the group were subsequently charged and convicted of a variety of offences: • Tony Lewis, 37, of Derby – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply heroin, being concerned in the supply of cannabis and the transfer of criminal property.  Lewis has also been sentenced for drugs offences in other force areas at the same time – jailed for 11 years. • Harninder Purewal, 47, of Derby – found guilty after a trial of conspiracy to supply cocaine – jailed for 20 years. • Dominic Hulland, 29 – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and possession of criminal property – jailed for 16 years and six months. • Aaron O’Donnell, 36 – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, being concerned in the supply of cannabis and possession of criminal property – jailed for 14 years and 8 months. • Max Bowler, 30, of Long Eaton, Derbyshire - pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of cannabis with intent to supply and was found guilty of possession of a firearm with the intent to cause fear or violence – jailed for 13 years and six months. • Alan Hulland, 54, of Elvaston, Derby – found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine – jailed for nine years. • Nicholas Cleary, 32, of Sparkbrook, Birmingham – found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine – jailed for seven years and six months. • Jordan Hudson, 31, of Derby – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and being concerned in the supply of cannabis – jailed for 10 years. • Joshua Keyland, 35, of Derby – found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis – jailed for 13 years and six months. • Lucas Sankey, 29, of Derby – found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine – jailed for eight years and six months. • Valentino Talic, 30, of Derby – found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine – jailed for eight years. • Kyle Steadman, 32, of Derby – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine – jailed for 12 years. A fourteenth person, Amanda Hutchinson, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and will be sentenced on 17 August. Detective Inspector Beth Lee, the Senior Investigating Officer, said: 'Cocaine supply can often be viewed as victimless; but the harm caused by cocaine trafficking extends far beyond the end user. 'It's the families of the person whose addiction is causing a decline in mental health and unmanageable debt. 'It's the children growing up exposed to drug use and its effects, which can contribute to their physical and emotional neglect. 'It's the harm caused by domestic abuse perpetrators whose inhibitions have lowered and their aggression increased due to their use of cocaine. 'It's the victims of cocaine fuelled serious violence when on a night out, or the innocent road users put at risk by those driving under the influence of cocaine. 'Without tackling those at the top of the chain, the cycle often repeats itself. Our aim is to get to the worst offenders first and cut off the supply which ultimately feeds and fuels the associated harm across our communities.'