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Police arrest 13 over UK's 'biggest drug conspiracy' | Police arrest 13 over UK's 'biggest drug conspiracy' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Police investigating what they say is the UK's biggest ever drugs conspiracy have arrested 13 men in dawn raids. | Police investigating what they say is the UK's biggest ever drugs conspiracy have arrested 13 men in dawn raids. |
The arrests follow a National Crime Agency investigation tracking drugs allegedly smuggled into the UK in lorry loads of vegetables and juice. | |
The conspiracy was around the importation of more than 50 tonnes of drugs, worth millions of pounds, from the Netherlands, officers say. | The conspiracy was around the importation of more than 50 tonnes of drugs, worth millions of pounds, from the Netherlands, officers say. |
NCA branch commander Jayne Lloyd called the arrests "massively significant". | NCA branch commander Jayne Lloyd called the arrests "massively significant". |
The arrests took place in London, Manchester, Stockport, St Helens, Warrington, Bolton, Dewsbury, and Leeds. | The arrests took place in London, Manchester, Stockport, St Helens, Warrington, Bolton, Dewsbury, and Leeds. |
"We believe it's the biggest ever conspiracy that we've seen in the UK," said Ms Lloyd, NCA regional head of investigations for the north of England. | "We believe it's the biggest ever conspiracy that we've seen in the UK," said Ms Lloyd, NCA regional head of investigations for the north of England. |
The 13 are suspected of being part of the UK arm of a well established organised crime group that allegedly used Dutch and British front companies to import heroin, cocaine and cannabis. | The 13 are suspected of being part of the UK arm of a well established organised crime group that allegedly used Dutch and British front companies to import heroin, cocaine and cannabis. |
Four men and two women arrested in April by Dutch police, on a European Arrest Warrant, are awaiting extradition to the UK and are suspected of being part of the same conspiracy. | Four men and two women arrested in April by Dutch police, on a European Arrest Warrant, are awaiting extradition to the UK and are suspected of being part of the same conspiracy. |
This investigation has got results thanks to cross-border European co-operation. | This investigation has got results thanks to cross-border European co-operation. |
Six arrests by Dutch investigators were under the EU's European Arrest Warrant, which aims to swiftly extradite suspects to face justice in the UK. | Six arrests by Dutch investigators were under the EU's European Arrest Warrant, which aims to swiftly extradite suspects to face justice in the UK. |
But the UK won't be able to use this tool if it leaves the EU without a security deal. | But the UK won't be able to use this tool if it leaves the EU without a security deal. |
The UK will also, overnight, leave Europol and Eurojust - both of which were involved in this investigation. | The UK will also, overnight, leave Europol and Eurojust - both of which were involved in this investigation. |
They co-ordinate the sharing of information and evidence that police and prosecutors use to put serious criminals behind bars. | They co-ordinate the sharing of information and evidence that police and prosecutors use to put serious criminals behind bars. |
The government has, however, today published a 159-page "No Deal Readiness" report. | The government has, however, today published a 159-page "No Deal Readiness" report. |
If you get to page 153, you will find it admits that leaving the EU without a deal amounts to a "loss of capability" for British police. | If you get to page 153, you will find it admits that leaving the EU without a deal amounts to a "loss of capability" for British police. |
And it further admits that the proposed alternatives "cannot fully compensate for the loss of EU co-operation tools". | And it further admits that the proposed alternatives "cannot fully compensate for the loss of EU co-operation tools". |
The 13 men are alleged to have imported drugs on numerous occasions between February 2017 and October 2018, including three consignments intercepted in 2018 with a total street value of more than £38m. | The 13 men are alleged to have imported drugs on numerous occasions between February 2017 and October 2018, including three consignments intercepted in 2018 with a total street value of more than £38m. |
"We suspect these men were involved in an industrial-scale operation - the biggest ever uncovered in the UK - bringing in tonnes of deadly drugs that were distributed to crime groups throughout the country," Ms Lloyd said. | "We suspect these men were involved in an industrial-scale operation - the biggest ever uncovered in the UK - bringing in tonnes of deadly drugs that were distributed to crime groups throughout the country," Ms Lloyd said. |
The investigation is linked to an operation in 2015 that saw 13 people jailed for a total of 176 years after the seizure of more than 100kg of heroin. | The investigation is linked to an operation in 2015 that saw 13 people jailed for a total of 176 years after the seizure of more than 100kg of heroin. |
Ms Lloyd said she hoped the arrests would "have a big impact" on the county lines drugs trade - in which drugs are transported form cities to users across the country - which was having a "devastating effect on the public, vulnerable children and the economy". | Ms Lloyd said she hoped the arrests would "have a big impact" on the county lines drugs trade - in which drugs are transported form cities to users across the country - which was having a "devastating effect on the public, vulnerable children and the economy". |
The NCA says the investigation involved European police forces and agencies, including Europol and Eurojust, as well as the UK Border Force and Revenue & Customs. | The NCA says the investigation involved European police forces and agencies, including Europol and Eurojust, as well as the UK Border Force and Revenue & Customs. |
"By working closely with partners here and overseas, in particular the Dutch national police, we believe we have dismantled a well established drug supply route," Ms Lloyd said. | "By working closely with partners here and overseas, in particular the Dutch national police, we believe we have dismantled a well established drug supply route," Ms Lloyd said. |