Multi-million pound drug supply route smashed

20th August 2010

Five men now face jail for their roles in bringing over half a billion pounds worth of cocaine into the UK hidden in metal pipes.

They were caught after one 80-kilo haul, with a street value of £25m, was discovered at Dover last year.

SOCA officers switched the drugs for flour and allowed the pipes to be transported to a warehouse in Manchester. Gang members grew suspicious when the delivery was delayed, and broke into the warehouse to retrieve their cocaine. They dumped the pipes after realising they had been duped.

Carl Smith, Darrol Sedgwick, Lee Smith, Darren Lowe and Craig Loveday were later arrested and charged with conspiracy to import cocaine. Sedgwick was found guilty after a three-week trial at Manchester Crown Court. The others pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

Officers obtained evidence to show that there had been more than 30 previous deliveries to the warehouse identical to the one that was intercepted. If each contained a similar amount of cocaine then the total amount could have a street value in excess of £500m.

Steve Baldwin, Head of Investigations in the North West for SOCA, said:

“This investigation is a great example of what can happen when partners work together. A first class detection by the UKBA enabled us to take out a well established supply route.

“Our officers dismantled a gang that provided a service to other crime groups in the North of England. They acted as shipping agents, arranging for large quantities of high purity cocaine to be smuggled into the country.

“Anyone who assists criminals in this way is a target for SOCA. If you come onto our radar we will pursue you relentlessly, track you down, and put you behind bars.”

Two other men, Vincent Martin and Dean Denton, who were hired by the gang for the raid at the warehouse, previously admitted attempted robbery

A date for sentencing has not been set.