Two men from Barrow are the latest to have been sentenced for their role in supplying drugs in Barrow as part of a dedicated operation by the Westmorland and Furness Community and Serious Organised Crime (CSOC) unit.
The investigation, Operation Filler, led by Westmorland and Furness’ Community Serious and Organised Crime (CSOC) Unit was set up in September 2022 in response to intelligence surrounding cocaine supply in the Barrow area.
On 16 September 2022 a warrant was executed at a flat on Longway in Barrow. As a result of searches at the property, 1kg of cocaine packaged into twelve ‘sub-deals’ was seized, along with 1.5kg of cannabis.
The original wrappings for the cocaine block were found to contain a fingerprints belonging to Paul Maggs, while Ross Goodwin's fingerprints were located on the plastic packaging of the twelve cocaine sub-deals.
In November 2022 a second warrant was executed at a house on Westway, Barrow. Cocaine along with empty snap-lock bags, cash, and scales were seized.
In July 2023 a third warrant was executed at a house on Longway, Barrow. Over £16,000 in cash, along with cannabis, cocaine, THC sweets, scales, and packaging were seized, and Ross Goodwin, aged 30, was arrested. Messages were recovered from Goodwin's mobile phone evidencing Maggs directing customers to Goodwin to be supplied with drugs.
Goodwin was sentenced to seven years six months in prison.
In May 2025 officers attended at the home address of Paul Maggs, aged 31, and arrested him for drugs offences, this was the culmination of an investigation under the name of Operation Nighthawk.
Detectives worked closely with colleagues from Merseyside Police to target Maggs and his ongoing drugs enterprise that was being run, despite the fact he was on court bail for his role in Operation Forfeit – a separate county drugs line operation.
Today, Paul Maggs, of Roose Road, Barrow was jailed for five years.
Two men have previously been convicted for their role in the conspiracy.
A spokesperson from Westmorland and Furness’ CSOC unit said: "Paul Maggs ran a prolific drug supply business in Barrow over a number of years, trafficking kilogram quantities of cocaine and cannabis and significantly degrading the quality of life in our communities.
“The sentencing of this crime group should demonstrate we will bring all our investigative capability to bear against those who traffic drugs in Cumbria and their upstream suppliers.
“We are currently pursuing asset recovery to ensure the profits of Maggs' and associates' criminality is taken off them and reinvested into the community.”
You can report information on drug activities online - Report | Cumbria Police or call 101 – or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.