Drugs & Firearms Gang Get 200 Years

Sat, 19 December 2009 Courtesy of: Lancashire Constabulary

Thirteen people have been jailed for a total of 198 years for drugs and firearms offences following a major investigation by Lancashire Constabulary across the UKand Europe.

The nine men and four women from Preston, Lancaster, Leeds, Surrey and Polandwere sentenced this week at Liverpool Crown Court as part of Operation Greengage

Ivan Hue, Natalie Nicholls, Nyome Hue and Karen Forshaw were all found guilty of conspiracy to supply class A and class C drugs at Liverpool Crown Court in October 2009.

Stella Taylor pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class C drugs and was found guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs

Majeed Shah and Mohammed Bawla have both previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A and class C drugs.

Shane Hall has previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and Krzysztof Kownacki previously pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying class A drugs.

Delroy Powell and Roman Bloch both previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A and class C drugs and were convicted of conspiracy to possess, sell or transfer firearms and conspiracy to possess, sell or transfer ammunition at Liverpool Crown Court in May 2009.

Tomasz Wisniewski previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A and class C drugs and conspiracy to transfer, sell or supply firearms and ammunition.

Aaron Worgan, 24, of Oxford Streetin Prestonpreviously pleaded guilty to money laundering.

Operation Greengage began in November 2006. The principal subject of the operation at this time was Ivan Hue from Preston.

Hue is a notable criminal with an extensive history that includes convictions for drug related offences and violence; he was released on licence in September of 2006 having served 12 months of a two year sentence for Section 20 malicious wounding.

In mid February 2007 the operation developed further and the investigation identified that Hue was using a network of couriers to transport funds to Amsterdamto pay for controlled drugs that would be subsequently imported into the UK.

Following this new development, officers identified four Fiat Multipla’s that Hue’s group had purchased in late 2006 in the North of England and Arbroath, Scotland. These vehicles were immediately exported to Amsterdam, where it is suspected that three of them were professionally adapted with under the floor smuggling ‘hides’.

As the investigation progressed, an extensive organised crime group operating across England, Scotlandand Europewas identified.

Numerous trips were made between the UKand Amsterdam, with money being exchanged at both ends. Drugs and firearms were being smuggled into the UK via the specially modified Fiat Multiplas and on one occasion seven kilos of cannabis, one kilo of ecstasy, seven handguns and 1,200 rounds of ammunition were recovered from one of the Multiplas which had been stopped at the port of Dover.

As part of the investigation Lancashire Constabulary worked with Amsterdam Police and judicial authorities, National Polish Police (Central Bureau of Investigation) and judicial authorities, Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA), Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) Her

Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Koninklijke Marechausee (Royal Netherlands Military Constabulary) and Bulgarian Police – Counter Organized and Serious Crime.

As a result of Operation Greengage, firearms, ammunition, class A and class B drugs and quantities of cash have all been seized. Four Fiat Multiplas, used to smuggle firearms and drugs into the UK, have also been seized, three of which have identical professional concealments.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Mounsey, of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “These are significant convictions that quite rightly have attracted appropriate and lengthy prison sentences. Ivan Hue has been a catalyst for criminality within parts of Prestonand his influence and reputation undoubtedly caused harm to many within the local communities.

“As part of a wider strategy to prevent organised crime developing in parts of Preston, Hueand his associates were quite rightly targeted by Lancashire Constabulary and we are very satisfied with the results seen at court today.

“This operation highlights first class co-operation between Lancashire Constabulary, other police forces in the UK and Europe as well as agencies such as the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the Crown Prosecution Service.”

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Cooke said: “I am delighted with today’s result which sends a clear message to those who engage in organised crime: we know who you are and you will be caught and severely punished.

“A large, sophisticated crime group, spanning the UKand mainland Europe, has been completely dismantled. The disruption of such a significant organised crime group has prevented untold quantities of drugs and firearms being brought into Lancashireand beyond, which ultimately could have had very serious consequences.

“Lancashire Constabulary is committed to disrupting organised crime groups and by working with other forces and agencies amajor operation has been paralysed. Together we are making Lancashire and the UKa more difficult place for criminals to do business.”

Joanne Cunliffe, Crown Advocate from the CPS Complex Casework Unit in Lancashiresaid: “Close cooperation between the CPS, police, customs and prosecuting counsel from the early stages of the investigation has been crucial to the success of this case, particularly because of its size and complexity.

“The drugs being imported by this group were obviously intended for the streets of Lancashire and other parts of the UK. By securing the convictions of so many members of the gang we have been able to ensure that their criminal activities can no longer endanger the public.

“I would also like to thank the authorities in Scotlandand the Netherlandswho have provided such valuable assistance in this case. Organised crime knows no borders and we are increasingly working with partners both here and abroad to ensure that we are in a position to tackle it successfully.”