In a tense and dramatic scene, police have released footage showing the moment they intercepted a taxi carrying two prominent figures of a British drug cartel attempting to evade capture.

Andrew Fitzgerald, aged 35, and Sean Richardson, 34, were pursued by law enforcement as they raced along the A617 near Newark, Nottinghamshire, in July 2024. The duo was fleeing after orchestrating a widespread distribution of crack cocaine, cocaine, and heroin throughout the county.

The gripping footage captures the coordinated efforts of four undercover police vehicles as they close in on the fleeing taxi in a strategic move to apprehend the suspects.

One police car maneuvers in front of the taxi, effectively cutting off its path, while another blocks access to adjacent lanes. Meanwhile, two additional police vehicles close the gap from behind, ensuring there is no escape.

In a decisive action, one of the police cars appears to make contact with the rear of the taxi, forcing it to an abrupt halt. Officers swiftly approach, opening the vehicle’s doors, and promptly arresting the two men.

One police vehicle appears to ram into the back of the taxi as it is forced to brake – before officers rush to open the vehicle’s doors and arrest the two men on the ground.

Realising that the net was closing in around them, a third member of the 15-strong gang tried to get rid of drug phones by dropping them into paint tins – only for police to find them and recover vital evidence.

Detectives discovered the cartel had been using five mobile phone lines to advertise, take orders and sell Class A drugs.

Footage shows Andrew Fitzgerald, 35, and Sean Richardson, 34, being arrested on the A617 near Newark, Nottinghamshire, in July 2024

Officers rush to open the taxi’s doors and arrest the two men on the ground 

Andrew Fitzgerald (left), 35, and Sean Richardson (right), 34, tried to escape the UK after flooding Nottinghamshire with crack cocaine, cocaine and heroin

They sold the drugs in the Kirkby, Sutton and Eastwood areas of Nottinghamshire, as well as Skegness in Lincolnshire.

Between January 2023 and July 2024, the Nottingham-based gang raked in hundreds of thousands of pounds.

When police raided a number of properties linked to the cartel, they discovered £125,000 worth of drugs as well as £40,000 in cash.

They also seized expensive jewellery as well as weapons including an air pistol, knives and a cross bow.

The gang were finally nailed when police seized a mobile phone from one of the group’s suppliers, Tyrone Shand, that identified the bulk purchasing of Class A drugs.

On Wednesday, 15 members of the gang – including a brother and sister – were jailed at Nottingham Crown Court for a combined total of more than 70 years.

Fitzgerald admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was jailed for 12 years. 

Richardson admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was jailed for eight years. 

Judge Stuart Rafferty KC said there could be ‘no doubt this was a category one conspiracy’ and that he was satisfied that ‘at least 15kg of Class A drugs, perhaps even 20kg, were trafficked by this group’.

He said the group had shown an ‘utter disregard to the misery and risk of life’, adding: ‘It is clear that the enterprise operated daily and was busy for much of the day.

When police raided a number of properties linked to the cartel they discovered £125,000 worth of drugs

Drugs found after police raided numerous properties during an investigation into the gang 

Other members of the large gang who were also nailed by police 

A gun found during the investigation into the drugs gang 

Police also seized other weapons including knives and a cross bow

The cross bow seized by police during the investigation into the drugs cartel 

‘There is evidence to suggest this was a 24-hour a day operation.

‘Without a shadow of a doubt, it would have continued to run had it not been dismantled by the police.’

The court heard Corey Graham, Andrew Cox and Nathan Sharp controlled the drug lines on behalf of Fitzgerald and his lieutenants.

Detectives discovered the gang stored large volumes of drugs at designated ‘stash houses’ in Bulwell and Bestwood, Nottinghamshire 

Other gang members would then deliver the drugs to customers in Nottinghamshire and Skegness.

After two police operations, the Nottingham gang were convicted of a string of drugs charges.

After the sentencing hearings, Detective Constable Steven Fenyn, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Serious Organised Crime unit, said: ‘These were callous criminals who only cared about making vast amounts of money.

‘They didn’t care how lethal their commodities were or the consequences for the communities and innocent people who would be irrevocably affected by this.

‘They thought they were untouchable but we were able to systematically dismantle the group and show them this wasn’t the case.’