Cocaine in metal pipes could have been worth £500m

16 November 2010

Five men who acted as shipping agents for drug traffickers have been jailed for a total of 94 years at Manchester Crown Court. They are thought to have imported over half a billion pounds worth of cocaine into the UK hidden inside metal pipes.

The gang was caught after an 80-kilo haul, with a street value of £25m, was discovered by the UK Border Agency at Dover last year.

SOCA officers switched the drugs for flour and allowed the pipes to complete their journey 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, 40, from Moston, who played a central role in the conspiracy to import cocaine, was jailed for 23 years. Darrol Sedgwick, 43, from Stretford, a lieutenant, was sentenced to 22 years. Darren Lowe, 31, from Moston, a driver and trusted associate, was jailed for 19 years. Craig Loveday, 41, from Rochdale, and Lee Smith, 42, from Middleton, who were also van drivers, were each locked up for 15 years.

Officers uncovered evidence of 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 had a street value in excess of £500m.

Matt Burton from SOCA said:

"A first class detection by the UKBA enabled us to take out a well established supply route for crime groups in the North of England.

“Anyone who supports drug traffickers, whether that's organising the shipments or driving the van, is a target for SOCA and we will come after you.”

Two other men, Vincent Martin, 39, from Baguley, and Dean Denton, 31, from Crumpsall, who were hired by the gang to carry out the warehouse raid, were each sentenced to five years for attempted robbery.

Judge Andrew Clarke imposed Travel Restriction Orders on Carl Smith, Lee Smith and Craig Loveday. The orders are designed to reduce re-offending by preventing convicted criminals from travelling abroad on release from prison. For more information see our new approaches page.