Daryll Samuel Hall, a drug dealer from County Durham, remains a fugitive after being sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in a significant drug trafficking operation. Hall, formerly of Farnley Close, Spennymoor, failed to appear at Leeds Crown Court on January 7, 2025, after allegedly sending in a sick note from Thailand ahead of his trial.
Judge Rob Mairs decided that the trial would continue in Hall’s absence and issued a bench warrant for his arrest. Despite this, Hall’s whereabouts remain unknown. His conviction is part of a larger case involving several co-conspirators from Leeds and Bradford, with the group convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. Hall’s sentence is among the 50 years’ worth of prison terms handed down during the trial.
The National Crime Agency (NCA), which led the investigation, confirmed that efforts to locate Hall are ongoing, with the lines of inquiry still open. Although Hall remains at large, there have been successes in locating other fugitives from this criminal network, including Clinton Blakey, who was arrested in Spain in 2023 after three years on the run.
Hall’s criminal activity is tied to a broader operation that trafficked drugs and firearms across northern England. The group was orchestrated by Carl O’Flaherty, who was sentenced to more than 17 years in 2023. This criminal enterprise was disrupted as part of Operation Venetic, a significant NCA-led initiative targeting encrypted communication platforms like EncroChat.
As a key member of the operation, Hall was described as a high-level customer of O’Flaherty, regularly receiving shipments of diluted cocaine. Taxi driver Safdar Pervez, who acted as a courier for the network, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role. Other members involved in producing and distributing the drugs were also sentenced to significant prison terms.
The investigation revealed a complex drug business model involving the bulk purchase of high-purity cocaine, which was adulterated and resold to dealers like Hall. The operation also involved the trafficking of firearms, seized from individuals like former Leeds footballer Paul Shepherd, who was sentenced in 2023.
The NCA’s investigation successfully dismantled this dangerous network, which was responsible for trafficking large quantities of drugs and firearms, severely disrupting criminal activities across the region. In total, 10 members of the group were jailed, receiving sentences totaling 118 years.
With Hall still at large, the NCA remains committed to pursuing him and bringing him to justice, as they continue their efforts to protect the public from organized crime.
