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| Guns and drugs smuggling soldiers jailed | Guns and drugs smuggling soldiers jailed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Four British soldiers who tried to smuggle guns and drugs into the UK have been jailed. | Four British soldiers who tried to smuggle guns and drugs into the UK have been jailed. |
| The men, along with a fifth man, were caught after firearms, ammunition and cocaine were found in a car arriving at Folkestone from Calais in January 2012. | The men, along with a fifth man, were caught after firearms, ammunition and cocaine were found in a car arriving at Folkestone from Calais in January 2012. |
| They were convicted of firearms and drugs charges on Monday after a six-week trial. | They were convicted of firearms and drugs charges on Monday after a six-week trial. |
| At Woolwich Crown Court they were given prison sentences ranging from six-and-a-half years to 14 years. | At Woolwich Crown Court they were given prison sentences ranging from six-and-a-half years to 14 years. |
| Describing it as "a carefully planned enterprise" Judge Philip Shorrock said: "The guns were intended for use by serious criminals. They would be used to kill or maim." | Describing it as "a carefully planned enterprise" Judge Philip Shorrock said: "The guns were intended for use by serious criminals. They would be used to kill or maim." |
| Drugs in boot | Drugs in boot |
| The court heard the gang was caught after armed police stopped two of the men in two BMW cars arriving at Folkestone on Eurotunnel last year. | The court heard the gang was caught after armed police stopped two of the men in two BMW cars arriving at Folkestone on Eurotunnel last year. |
| Officers discovered five handguns and three silencers, while 500g of cocaine was found in an Army issue boot covered in duct tape and curry powder to disguise the smell. | Officers discovered five handguns and three silencers, while 500g of cocaine was found in an Army issue boot covered in duct tape and curry powder to disguise the smell. |
| Detectives believe the guns were destined for criminal gangs in London. | Detectives believe the guns were destined for criminal gangs in London. |
| Ringleader Lemar Loveless, 26, of Brydon Walk, Islington, north London, was jailed for 14 years after admitting conspiring to import firearms. | Ringleader Lemar Loveless, 26, of Brydon Walk, Islington, north London, was jailed for 14 years after admitting conspiring to import firearms. |
| Lance Laurent, 26, of Gloucester Street, Battersea, south-west London, was sentenced to 12 years in jail after admitting conspiring to import firearms. | Lance Laurent, 26, of Gloucester Street, Battersea, south-west London, was sentenced to 12 years in jail after admitting conspiring to import firearms. |
| Both Loveless and Laurent were also found guilty of conspiring to import class A drugs. | Both Loveless and Laurent were also found guilty of conspiring to import class A drugs. |
| Trave Dyce, 22, of Sydney Road, Smethwick, West Midlands, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after he admitted conspiring to import drugs and firearms. | Trave Dyce, 22, of Sydney Road, Smethwick, West Midlands, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after he admitted conspiring to import drugs and firearms. |
| Romone Mashalleck, 25, of Huron Street, Balham, south London, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail after being found guilty of conspiring to import firearms. | Romone Mashalleck, 25, of Huron Street, Balham, south London, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail after being found guilty of conspiring to import firearms. |
| Duran Wright, a regimental police officer in the Army, was jailed for 10 years. | Duran Wright, a regimental police officer in the Army, was jailed for 10 years. |
| The 28-year-old, of Jerningham Road, New Cross, south-east London, was found guilty of conspiring to import class A drugs and firearms. | The 28-year-old, of Jerningham Road, New Cross, south-east London, was found guilty of conspiring to import class A drugs and firearms. |
| Jurors heard Dyce, Laurent and Wright were serving soldiers while Loveless was on terminal leave ahead of his discharge from the Army. | Jurors heard Dyce, Laurent and Wright were serving soldiers while Loveless was on terminal leave ahead of his discharge from the Army. |
| Alison Saunders, of the CPS, said: "This was a planned conspiracy to bring weapons, ammunition and drugs into the UK organised by four soldiers, based in Germany, and their civilian contact in London." | Alison Saunders, of the CPS, said: "This was a planned conspiracy to bring weapons, ammunition and drugs into the UK organised by four soldiers, based in Germany, and their civilian contact in London." |
| She said the full extent of those involved was only discovered when phone data was "meticulously analysed and a picture of those involved was created". | She said the full extent of those involved was only discovered when phone data was "meticulously analysed and a picture of those involved was created". |
| She continued: "These deadly weapons could have gone on to be used in violent crimes. | She continued: "These deadly weapons could have gone on to be used in violent crimes. |
| "The high-purity cocaine that was imported had a street value of over £70,000 and would almost certainly have made big profits for criminal gangs while damaging lives." | "The high-purity cocaine that was imported had a street value of over £70,000 and would almost certainly have made big profits for criminal gangs while damaging lives." |