£250m drug empire with elaborate UK network received orders from gangsters in Dubai

A GBP250m drug plot smuggled into the UK and distributed around an elaborate network of gangs received some of its orders from gangsters in Dubai. The elaborate scheme saw the gang involved in the importation of over two tonnes of class A drugs [1] with an estimated street value of more than GBP250m. The drugs were brought into the country via the Eurotunnel and port system inside an empty trailer before being taken to a remote farmhouse in North Wales.

The scheme, which involved the importation of cocaine and heroin, was toppled following an investigation by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU)[2]. Four men connected to the plot were jailed yesterday after a sentencing at Chester Crown Court [3].

Speaking to the ECHO [6] after the four men were sentenced, NWROCU Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Whitehead said: "These drugs would have originated from South America. We know some of the orchestration was carried out by people in Dubai.

The drugs were brought onto mainland Europe and then through the ports into the UK for distribution. "With the amount of drugs involved, this would have undoubtedly hit the streets across the whole of the UK [7]. We know the individuals involved were as far as North Wales, London, Merseyside [8], but we know the distribution network operated far across the UK."

The court heard yesterday that between May 3 and September 21 last year, Guy Remington drove to France, Belgium and Holland via the Eurotunnel, using an empty trailer to hide his drugs. He would return to his Hereford home address twenty-four hours later. Remington would then travel to Luke Hirst's home address, a farm in Deeside, North Wales, the day after returning from Europe, and remove the drugs from a concealment hidden behind the wooden panels of his trailer.

The drugs were then sorted into boxes and bags for onward supply. Hirst would meet his customers at a nearby service station or on Pinfold Lane, then take their cars to his property, where he would fill them with drugs before giving their vehicles back to them, all to conceal the location of his farm. But it was after Remington's ninth and final drug run to Europe that the OCG came crashing down [9].

Police, who had been carrying out a covert operation, intervened on September 20 2023 as he was removing the drugs from his trailer at Hirst's farm, ending the multi-million pounds drugs empire [10]. He was arrested at the scene and taken into custody. Following an extensive search of Hirst's farm, NWROCU officers seized GBP183,865 cash from Remington's vehicle, 505kg of cocaine, and 108kg of heroin estimated to be worth between GBP15-21m pounds wholesale.

On October 18 2023, NWROCU officers arrested Thomas Smith at his home address in Merseyside. Officers seized half a kilo of cocaine and 9807 MDMA tablets, with a street value of up to GBP167,000 and approximately GBP16,000 cash [11]. They also recovered a notepad containing extensive records of his onward supply network. And on October 26 2023, a search warrant was carried out at Station Road, Leatherhead which led to the arrest of Morgan Towner, who acted as a courier for an OCG based in the South of England.

DCS Whitehead told the ECHO [12]: "We know these individuals are part of wider groups and networks and obviously we will continue to pursue other individuals we believe are involved, both in the UK and overseas. This is undoubtedly a significant seizure - it's a huge quantity of drugs.

Clockwise, from top left, Morgan Towner, Luke Hirst, Thomas Smith and Guy Remington (Image: CPS)

"The two to three tonnes represents the quantity we say would have been brought in on the nine trips by Guy Remington. These people were operating at the very highest level of drug importation and I have no doubt these levels of drugs have absolutely devastating consequences on communities.

The distribution of drugs results in higher crime rates, violence and the exploitation of vulnerable people and young children." Speaking specifically about Huyton man Smith, the NWROCU investigating officer said: "The impact of Smith's criminality would undoubtedly be felt across the whole of Merseyside [13] and into the winder North West region and the UK. Drugs of this significance and scale would have a far-reaching impact."

Hirst, 38, of Pinfold Lane, Flintshire, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (cocaine/ heroin) and was jailed for 12 years. Remington, 48, of Welsh Bicknor, Herefordshire, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import and supply Class A drugs (cocaine/ heroin) and was jailed for seven years. Smith, 43, of Garrowby Drive, Huyton [14], pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (cocaine/ heroin), possession with intent to supply a Class A controlled drug, and possession of Class B controlled drug (cannabis) and was jailed for 18 years.

Towner, 47, of Station Road, Leatherhead, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (cocaine/ heroin) and was jailed for seven years.

Officers sort through drugs found at the North Wales farm (Image: CPS)

Senior Crown Prosecutor Nicola Wyn Williams of CPS Mersey-Cheshire's Complex Casework Unit [15] said: "This was a slick operation carried out with precision and planning. It is possibly the last thing that you could imagine happening at a farm in rural North Wales. But that was the key.

"The rural location provided privacy for the group to unload the huge quantities of heroin and cocaine stashed in a hide in the trailer [16]. The nearby A55 and motorway network allowed couriers to collect and be on their way to distribute the drugs for onward supply all over the country. "Once it was known that the defendant Remington had left the UK on September 18 2023, it was believed that he would return in possession of Class A drugs.

The Crown Prosecution Service [17] worked with officers from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit as they intervened and arrested those involved at or near the farm.

Others were arrested on later dates.

"In the face of overwhelming evidence, all those charged have pleaded guilty and the sentences today reflect the scale and sophistication of the operation and should act as a deterrent to those involved in the importation and supply of Class A drugs."

References

^ elaborate scheme saw the gang involved in the importation of over two tonnes of class A drugs (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^ North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^ Four men connected to the plot were jailed yesterday after a sentencing at Chester Crown Court (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^ He was once a talented footballer before his text messages landed him in jail (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^ Secret compartment led police to uncover gang's GBP64m drug stash (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^ the ECHO (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^ With the amount of drugs involved, this would have undoubtedly hit the streets across the whole of the UK (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^ Merseyside (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^ final drug run to Europe that the OCG came crashing down (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^ multi-million pounds drugs empire (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^ Officers seized half a kilo of cocaine and 9807 MDMA tablets, with a street value of up to GBP167,000 and approximately GBP16,000 cash (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^ the ECHO (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^ Merseyside (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^ Huyton (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^ CPS Mersey-Cheshire's Complex Casework Unit (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^ "The rural location provided privacy for the group to unload the huge quantities of heroin and cocaine stashed in a hide in the trailer (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^ Crown Prosecution Service (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)