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Three guilty of drug-making plot | Three guilty of drug-making plot |
(30 minutes later) | |
Three men have became the first people in the UK to be convicted of conspiring to mass produce crystal meth. | Three men have became the first people in the UK to be convicted of conspiring to mass produce crystal meth. |
Timothy Morgan, 41 of High Street, Wootton, and David Walker, 48, of Spring Hill, Ventnor, were found guilty of conspiracy to produce the drug. | Timothy Morgan, 41 of High Street, Wootton, and David Walker, 48, of Spring Hill, Ventnor, were found guilty of conspiracy to produce the drug. |
Stefan Thomas, 43, of Gunville Road, Newport, had pleaded guilty to the charge at an earlier date. | Stefan Thomas, 43, of Gunville Road, Newport, had pleaded guilty to the charge at an earlier date. |
Morgan will be sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on Thursday, with Walker and Thomas being sentenced later. | Morgan will be sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on Thursday, with Walker and Thomas being sentenced later. |
Only 6% of those who take the drug ever manage to come off it Det Sgt David Nealon | Only 6% of those who take the drug ever manage to come off it Det Sgt David Nealon |
Det Sgt David Nealon, of Hampshire police, said that the prosecution came after an 18-month investigation into the gang which had the potential of producing £1.5m worth of the drug each year. | Det Sgt David Nealon, of Hampshire police, said that the prosecution came after an 18-month investigation into the gang which had the potential of producing £1.5m worth of the drug each year. |
He said: "This is the first case involving the production of methylamphetamine to be brought through the UK courts. | He said: "This is the first case involving the production of methylamphetamine to be brought through the UK courts. |
"It was a ground-breaking investigation and a steep-learning curve for all the officers involved." | "It was a ground-breaking investigation and a steep-learning curve for all the officers involved." |
Det Sgt Nealon said Morgan had tried to set up a fake medical supply company to source the main ingredient ephedrine. | Det Sgt Nealon said Morgan had tried to set up a fake medical supply company to source the main ingredient ephedrine. |
Methamphetamine comes in crystal, powder and pill form | |
But when this failed, the defendant resorted to attempting to extract it from a common cold remedy. | But when this failed, the defendant resorted to attempting to extract it from a common cold remedy. |
The trial heard that Morgan's illicit activities were first discovered after he was arrested outside a Newport nightclub and white powder was seen falling from his pockets. | The trial heard that Morgan's illicit activities were first discovered after he was arrested outside a Newport nightclub and white powder was seen falling from his pockets. |
A Hampshire police spokeswoman said that methylamphetamine - known as crystal meth or crystal ice - was currently a class B drug but is being reclassified to class A in January. | A Hampshire police spokeswoman said that methylamphetamine - known as crystal meth or crystal ice - was currently a class B drug but is being reclassified to class A in January. |
Det Sgt Nealon added: "It has had devastating effects on rural communities and can completely wipe people out because it is extremely addictive - 10 times more than other amphetamines - and only 6% of those who take the drug ever manage to come off it." | Det Sgt Nealon added: "It has had devastating effects on rural communities and can completely wipe people out because it is extremely addictive - 10 times more than other amphetamines - and only 6% of those who take the drug ever manage to come off it." |
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