In a historic judgment, 18 members of an international organised crime group (OCG) have been convicted in the UK’s largest-ever drugs investigation. The network, responsible for smuggling billions of pounds worth of drugs into the country, has been dismantled following a multi-agency operation led by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
The criminal network trafficked an estimated 50 tonnes of heroin, cocaine, and cannabis into the UK over three years. From southeastern England to Scotland, the OCG supplied drugs to crime gangs across the nation, devastating communities and fueling violent street crime.
Industrial-Scale Smuggling Operation
The scale of the operation was described by Manchester Crown Court as “unprecedented.” Prosecutors revealed the OCG used a sophisticated web of front companies and warehouses in the UK and the Netherlands to mask their illegal activities. To evade detection, the group concealed drugs within consignments of pungent foodstuffs like onions, garlic, and ginger.
Judge Paul Lawton, who presided over the case, noted:
‘What you were actually distributing was addiction, misery, social degradation, and in some cases, death. The harm caused is incalculable.’
The group’s leader, Paul Green, 59, from Cheshire, orchestrated the operation, renting warehouses and acquiring fake businesses to transport drugs into the UK. Green even rented a hotel room to use untraceable Wi-Fi for encrypted communications.
The OCG imported drugs through 240 shipments, six of which were intercepted, revealing £40 million worth of heroin, cocaine, and cannabis. If just half the shipments contained similar quantities, the total street value would exceed £3 billion.
A Record-Breaking Trial
The enormity of the case required two trials, with the first lasting 23 months—the longest in UK history. Reporting restrictions were lifted today after the conclusion of the second trial, allowing the details of this monumental investigation to be revealed.
The OCG’s activities came to light through seizures made between August 2015 and September 2018. The NCA, working with Dutch authorities, intercepted drugs hidden in cargo at ports in Lincolnshire and the Netherlands.
The gang’s methods were bold yet careless. In one instance, they concealed amphetamine worth £1.1 million in bottles of cream. In another, they cloned a legitimate UK business to smuggle cocaine hidden in boxes of ginger.
Criminal Tradecraft Exposed
Green’s group employed tactics designed to confuse authorities, including forging documents, changing names, and cloning businesses to appear legitimate. The OCG even bought up to 50 tonnes of onions weekly to create a paper trail for their operations. However, their efforts often unraveled due to missteps.
In 2016, Dutch police arrested two members who left a van containing 57 kilograms of amphetamine unguarded after a night of drinking. In another instance, a Dutch haulage driver, suspicious of his cargo, alerted authorities, leading to the discovery of eight kilograms of cocaine.
Green and accomplice Leslie Kewin, 63, also committed fraud, stealing a man’s identity to secure a £262,000 mortgage to pay off a drug debt.
Leaders Sentenced
Paul Green received a 32-year prison sentence, while co-conspirators, including Dutch nationals and UK accomplices, faced sentences ranging from 18 to 24 years. Dutch authorities played a critical role, extraditing members and providing evidence to dismantle the network.
The NCA’s Director of Operations, Rob Jones, highlighted the OCG’s role in fueling violent crime:
‘Without criminals like these, there would be no turf war murders or innocent lives lost in crossfire. This network delivered addiction and misery across the UK.’
The agency’s efforts revealed the full scale of the operation, demonstrating the vital role of international collaboration.
A Collaborative Victory
The investigation showcased the dedication of multiple agencies, including the NCA, Dutch Police, and Border Force. Sara Drysdale of the Crown Prosecution Service described the case as ”the largest drug smuggling operation ever detected in the UK.”
The Crown will now pursue confiscation proceedings to recover the profits of this industrial-scale operation.
A Message to Organised Crime
Minister for Crime and Policing, Dame Diana Johnson, commended the investigation:
‘This was an extremely complex operation involving a huge number of agencies. Our streets are safer with these criminals behind bars.’
This landmark case serves as a stark warning to organised crime groups: no level of tradecraft can shield them from the reach of justice.
3 December 2024
