Text entered

40 Tonne drug trafficking network jailed for over 250 years

Government Communications (NDS)

27 October 2011

Twenty-four members of an organised crime network which "lived and breathed drug trafficking" have been handed jail terms totalling over 250 years for their roles in plots to smuggle up to 40 tonnes of drugs into the UK.The network, which was dismantled following a three-year investigation led by the Serious Organised Crime Agency, consisted of organised criminals from London and Liverpool working with overseas traffickers to import cocaine from South and Central America, along with heroin, cannabis and amphetamine from Europe. Sentencing concluded today at Liverpool Crown Court when Judge David Aubrey QC jailed the final few members of the network. All 24 were prosecuted for either drugs, money laundering, forgery or identity theft offences. Only three pleaded not guilty and were convicted after a trial which lasted eight weeks. London-based Mehmet Baybasin, who was found guilty, and his counterpart in Liverpool Paul Taylor, who pleaded guilty, were dealt with last week. They received 30 years and 22 years respectively for conspiracy to import up to three tonnes of cocaine.SOCA officers planted listening devices to monitor conversations between members of the network, carried out surveillance throughout the UK, and analysed masses of phone data.Baybasin planned to use his established contacts in the global drugs trade to supply the cocaine to Taylor and his associates. If the three tonne test shipment was a success, Taylor said there was a stockpile of 40 tonnes ready to smuggle inside shipments of tinned fish or wood pellets.During sentencing, Judge Aubrey said: "The quantities or potential quantities of drugs that were to come into this country and subsequently flood our street, pubs, homes and clubs and the potential profit that you were seeking or did make is staggering."I am satisfied they were not pie in the sky amounts that were spoken of. There was talk of bringing two to three tonnes of cocaine from a stockpile of 40 and consideration was given to bringing that in piecemeal. I am told, and I accept, that the wholesale value of 500 kilos alone is £17.5 million and the retail value would be that much greater."Steve Baldwin, Head of Investigations in the North West for SOCA, said: "This was a highly sophisticated network with a very clear focus. Baybasin, Taylor and their cronies lived and breathed drug trafficking. It's all they ever talked about, and while they talked, SOCA listened and watched. "Bringing down the entire network was only possible because of a tremendous international partnership. Merseyside Police, the PSNI, partners in South and Central America, and the Crown Prosecution Service all played a crucial part in achieving this excellent result." SOCA and its partners also derailed the network's attempts to import heroin from the Netherlands. During the investigation officers seized 10 kilos of heroin, 50 kilos of cannabis resin, three kilos of cocaine, 200 kilos of amphetamine and over £420,000 in cash.Baybasin and Taylor's associates received sentences ranging from one to 23 years.A financial investigation into the network is still ongoing and there will be a confiscation hearing at a later date.Notes to Editors1. Pictures of the network members, surveillance footage of meetings and audio recordings of conversations can all be downloaded from the section of the SOCA website www.soca.gov.uk2. Sentencing details for members of the network:Mehmet Baybasin (DoB 1/1/63), of Fairfield Crescent, Edgware, London was found guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine and was jailed for 30 years. He was also given a concurrent sentence for a money laundering offence.Paul Alan Taylor (DoB 21/5/56), of Paul Orr Court, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine and was jailed for 22 years. He was also given concurrent sentences for heroin, cannabis, money laundering and possession of false identity document offences.Anthony Geraghty (DoB 23/7/70), of Jason Walk, Everton, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine and was jailed for 20 years. He was also given concurrent sentences for heroin, cannabis and money laundering offences.Martin McMullen (DoB 18/7/50), of Bluebell Lane, Huyton, Liverpool, was found guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine and was jailed for 23 years.Tosun Oyunco (DoB 25/5/59), of Great Cambridge Road, London, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine and was jailed for 19 years. He was also given concurrent sentences for heroin and possession of false identity document offences.James Fairbrother (DoB 19/12/57), of Paul Orr Court, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine and was jailed for 15 years. He was also given concurrent sentences for heroin and money laundering offences.Huseyin Azis (DoB 25/10/67), of Sylvan Avenue, London, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and possession of false identity document offences. He was jailed for a total of 9 years. Azis also received a concurrent sentence for a money laundering offence. John Jordan (DoB 18/8/60), of Crompton Street, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine and was jailed for 12 years.Michael Corish (DoB 5/5/64), of Queens Drive, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine and was jailed for 13 years 6 months. He also received concurrent sentences for amphetamine, heroin and cannabis offences.Andrew Molloy (DoB 18/11/70), of Taylforth Close, Liverpool, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and was jailed for 10 years. Neil Bogle (DoB 4/8/77), of Ronaldsway, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to conspiracies to supply heroin and cocaine and was jailed for a total of 12 years 8 months. He also received concurrent sentences for other heroin and cocaine offences.Gerard Shields (DoB 2/5/81), of Commercial Road, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine and was jailed for 14 years. He also received concurrent sentences for two other cocaine offences.Neil Smith (DoB 14/2/61), of Queens Drive, Mossley Hill, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to conspiracies to import and supply heroin and conspiracy to supply amphetamine. He was jailed for a total of 16 years.Anthony Moorcroft (DoB 19/9/70), of Fairclough Road, Huyton, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply amphetamine and was jailed for 8 years.John Delargy (DoB 5/4/62), of Princes Street, Widnes, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply amphetamine and was jailed for 8 years.Francis Robb (DoB 29/9/65), of Miranda Place, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine and possession of a false identity document and was jailed for a total of 5 years 6 months. He also received concurrent sentences for handling stolen goods and money laundering offences.James Connolly (DoB 21/4/61), of Chetwood Avenue, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to forging identity documents and was jailed for 4 years.Stephen O'Hare (DoB 13/12/80) of Winslow Street, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to money laundering offences and was jailed for 3 years.Joseph James (DoB 14/2/77), of Opal Close, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and was jailed for 3 years.Anthony Tierney (DoB 13/1/79), of Cranmer Street, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and was jailed for 2 years 8 months.Mohamed Nadeem (DoB 12/12/78), of Clement Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and was jailed for 3 years 4 months.Robert Taylor (DoB 31/8/38), of Lairds Place, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to possession of false identity documents and received a 12 month suspended sentence.Metin Gencer (DoB 15/9/61), of Chestnut Close, Stoke Newington, London, pleaded guilty to money laundering and received a 2 year community service order.Hassan Mouradi (DoB 19/6/76), of Duncan Street, Rotherham, pleaded guilty to money laundering and received a 12 month suspended sentence.For more information contact the SOCA press office on 0870 268 8100