Lancashire Police bust major drugs racket

Edward McIntosh

Five people from Scotland are to be sentenced for their part in a huge drugs racket.

Police say a major internation drugs smuggling racket was smashed with an investigation code-named "Operation Greenage".

And now eight men - including the five from Scotland - are awaiting sentencing for their part in the drugs and firearms conspiracy spanning the UK, Europe and South America.

Thirteen others from England - including the gang's "Mr Big" Ivan Hue - were sentenced to a total of 198 years imprisonment at a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on 17th December.

Now the remaining members of the gang have admitted guilt and the eight are to be sentenced.

They are Martin Graham, Michael Hailwood, Edward McIntosh, Lucasz Litwinski, Karol Siejda, James Boyle, Jason Bowley and Leslie Graham have all pleaded guilty to drugs offences in relation to Operation Greengage.

Officers from the Lancashire force's Serious and Organised Crime Unit began the operation in November 2006, the main subject of which at that time was Ivan Hue of Robin Street, Preston.

The investigation identified that Hue was using a network of couriers, which included close family members and friends, to transport funds to Amsterdam to pay for controlled drugs that would be subsequently imported into the UK.

Officers identified four Fiat Multipla cars that Hue’s group had purchased in late 2006 in the North of England and Arbroath in Scotland. Using these vehicles, numerous trips were made between the UK and Amsterdam, with money being exchanged at both ends. Drugs and firearms were being smuggled into the UK via the specially modified Multiplas.

As the investigation progressed, an extensive organised crime group operating across England, Scotland and Europe was identified. It became apparent that an Organised Crime Group within Scotland was already being investigated by the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency.

Their investigation was focused on Edward McIntosh and Michael Hailwood who were involved in the importation of cocaine into the UK using predominantly Eastern European men who were flying into the UK with drugs stored internally.

Between October 2007 and December 2007, police in Holland were using telephone wire taps to listen to the calls of Hailwood, McIntosh and another man as part of a separate operation.

These calls showed that human couriers (primarily of East European origin) were being used to import cocaine direct from South America to the UK via the European mainland. These conversations are corroborated by evidence from airlines where the organisers and couriers are listed on flights from/to South America and from/to the European mainland.

The investigation identified that the couriers were travelling by air to Edinburgh and Aberdeen Airports where they would be collected on arrival and taken to houses or hotels in the Arbroath, Dundee and Fife area. There could be as many as three people on any one flight. These couriers were accompanied personally by Michael Hailwood, Leslie Graham or other trusted associates to supervise the couriers during the flights.

It is known that couriers also used Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds/Bradford, Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports to deliver commodities to the UK for onward supply into England and Scotland. Various ports within the UK were also used by the crime group.

Enquiries showed that Hailwood, Leslie Graham and Jason Bowley have all visited South America. Argentine Authorities assisted the investigation providing evidence of travel into and out of the country and details of money transfers into that country that would undoubtedly have been used to fund the importations.

In August 2008 Hailwood, who is originally from Liverpool but was living in Amsterdam, was stopped by the police in the Netherlands driving one of the Multiplas.

The vehicle was seized and later searched by Lancashire Constabulary where it was found to contain one pellet of cocaine. Hailwood was arrested and charged as a result of the ongoing operation.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Mounsey, of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: "Operation Greengage has been an incredibly complex and protracted investigation and required many hours of hard work from the investigation team.

"A large, sophisticated crime group, spanning the UK and mainland Europe, has been dismantled. The disruption of such a significant organised crime group has prevented untold quantities of drugs and firearms being brought into Lancashire and prevented inevitable harm to local and wider UK communities.

"The operation highlights first class co-operation that exists between Lancashire Constabulary, the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and other law enforcement partners in the UK and the rest of Europe. Of particular significance was the assistance provided by the Crown Prosecution Service in facilitating contact with its European Criminal Justice partners.

"What this operation also shows is that while Lancashire Constabulary is committed to targeting those organised crime groups operating within the county, which impact adversely upon its communities, we will also relentlessly pursue criminals from outside of the county if they enter into criminal conspiracies with their Lancashire associates. They should expect the same level of investigation and will inevitably receive a knock on their door from Lancashire police or one of its European partners."

Detective Chief Superintendent Allan Moffat, Crime Coordinator at the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA), said: “We welcome justice being served on the individuals involved in this criminal network. These individuals were ruthless in their approach and the use of various risky methods to transport their illegal drugs demonstrates how determined they were to further their power and profit.

"We have been working in partnership with Lancashire Constabulary over several months to piece together the movements and activities of this crime group and the outcome of this investigation should act as a serious warning to others involved in organised crime.

"It is an excellent example of how partnership working can maximise the effectiveness of law enforcement activity. It takes a network to defeat a network and as an Agency, we constantly look beyond our jurisdiction to target the criminals impacting on Scotland’s communities."

Joanne Cunliffe, Crown Advocate from the CPS Complex Casework Unit in Lancashire, said: "This is an excellent example of inter-agency liaison. From an early stage we set up close partnerships with our Scottish and foreign investigative and judicial counterparts ensuring that good lines of communication were established. As a result we were able to obtain the necessary evidence required to build a strong case against this international crime gang, ensuring that convictions were secured.

"The drugs and firearms that this crime group smuggled into the UK were destined for the streets of Lancashire and elsewhere. With this group convicted hopefully our streets are a safer place to live."

The eight due to be sentenced are:-

Martin Graham of Kirkland Walk, Methil, Fife who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and class C drugs

Michael Hailwood, of Amsterdam, formerly of Cherry Tree Road, Liverpool who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs

Edward McIntosh of Spitalfield Place, Arbroath, Angus who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A and class C drugs

Lucasz Litwinski of Glenogil Drive, Arbroath, Angus, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A and class C drugs

Karol Siejda of Eskdale Rise, Allerton, Bradford who pleaded guilty conspiracy to supply class A and class C drugs

James Boyle of Meldrum Road, Kirkcaldy, Fife, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A and class C drugs

Jason Bowley of Holmewood Road, South Northwood, Croydon, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs

Leslie Graham of Peddie Street, Dundee who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs

At date for a full sentencing hearing will be set at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday 25 February.

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