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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Two jailed over cocaine smuggling | Two jailed over cocaine smuggling |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A drug smuggler from Merseyside has been jailed for 19 years for his part in a plot to smuggle £166m of cocaine hidden in tins of asparagus. | A drug smuggler from Merseyside has been jailed for 19 years for his part in a plot to smuggle £166m of cocaine hidden in tins of asparagus. |
| Father-of-three, James Kelly, 34, was part of an international gang planning to import 1,600kg of the Class A drug from Peru, Liverpool Crown Court heard. | Father-of-three, James Kelly, 34, was part of an international gang planning to import 1,600kg of the Class A drug from Peru, Liverpool Crown Court heard. |
| Salim Omer, 34, from Preston in Lancashire, was also jailed for three and a half years for money laundering. | Salim Omer, 34, from Preston in Lancashire, was also jailed for three and a half years for money laundering. |
| The judge accepted that Omer did not know the money had a drugs connection. | The judge accepted that Omer did not know the money had a drugs connection. |
| Great magnitude | Great magnitude |
| The court heard father-of-two, Omer, admit to money laundering after acting as a courier in the drug smuggling operation. | The court heard father-of-two, Omer, admit to money laundering after acting as a courier in the drug smuggling operation. |
| The scheme was uncovered when police found tins of drugs in a warehouse in Holland in November 2005. | The scheme was uncovered when police found tins of drugs in a warehouse in Holland in November 2005. |
| Kelly, from Garston, Liverpool, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, was a "powerful and trusted first lieutenant" in a drugs gang led by his father Dennis O'Brien, the prosecution claimed. | Kelly, from Garston, Liverpool, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, was a "powerful and trusted first lieutenant" in a drugs gang led by his father Dennis O'Brien, the prosecution claimed. |
| This was a conspiracy of great magnitude Judge John Roberts | This was a conspiracy of great magnitude Judge John Roberts |
| Detective Chief Inspector Dave Kelly of Merseyside Police said he hoped the sentence would deter other criminals: "People involved in this level of criminality believe that they are untouchable. But this sends out a powerful message that they are not. | |
| "In the end Merseyside police will take them out. This is part of our total war on crime." | |
| The family's business dealings were uncovered after O'Brien, who has since fled the country, and his son were recorded talking about the massive drugs operation. | The family's business dealings were uncovered after O'Brien, who has since fled the country, and his son were recorded talking about the massive drugs operation. |
| Detectives bugged their car and overheard them discussing details of the deal. | Detectives bugged their car and overheard them discussing details of the deal. |
| The court heard the drugs were canned in Peru before being transported to Rotterdam via boat. | The court heard the drugs were canned in Peru before being transported to Rotterdam via boat. |
| Police intercepted the consignment at a warehouse in Amsterdam and arrested a number of the gang. | Police intercepted the consignment at a warehouse in Amsterdam and arrested a number of the gang. |
| Kelly, who was in Rotterdam, fled back to the UK but was arrested several days later and charged. | Kelly, who was in Rotterdam, fled back to the UK but was arrested several days later and charged. |
| Sir Desmond de Silva QC, defending, said his client had been a legitimate businessman but became involved with crime after suffering depression when he was diagnosed with a liver disease. | Sir Desmond de Silva QC, defending, said his client had been a legitimate businessman but became involved with crime after suffering depression when he was diagnosed with a liver disease. |
| Sentencing him, Judge John Roberts said: "This was a conspiracy of great magnitude. | Sentencing him, Judge John Roberts said: "This was a conspiracy of great magnitude. |
| "You were part of a team running an ongoing drug supply business." | "You were part of a team running an ongoing drug supply business." |
| He added: "The distribution of drugs like cocaine ruins people's lives. It is an evil drug and those who seek to peddle it can expect to be locked up for a long time." | He added: "The distribution of drugs like cocaine ruins people's lives. It is an evil drug and those who seek to peddle it can expect to be locked up for a long time." |