A massive police sting operation uncovered a drug-trafficking plot that was involved in the smuggling of dozens of kilos of cannabis between Merseyside and the Isle of Man.
As part of the £1m operation, the Class B drug was smuggled via hidden compartments in cars, disguised as presents, in shipping crates, as well as pushchairs and suitcases. However, the plot was soon rumbled after the Isle of Man Constabulary kicked off Operation Artemis - an operation targeting organised crime groups in the UK and the Isle of Man.
Police confiscated 54 kilos of cannabis with a street value of over £1m as well as roughly £250,000 in cash and five cars. Drugs were stored in a variety of places in the cars, including the wheel hubs and underneath the loose change holder, the Liverpool Echo reports.
At the start of February last year, Thomas Harrison and a female associate were stopped and spoken to by police prior to boarding a return ferry. The pair claimed they had travelled to the island with a car for a "short break" but had to go home after their daughter had "gone missing from home".
Despite this, enquiries revealed that Harrison made 12 short trips to the island across a five-month period. Harrison returned to the island on February 23 where he was stopped by police before boarding a return ferry.
They uncovered over £47,000 which was stored under his passenger seat. Consequently, Harrison was charged with attempting to remove criminal property from the island and later received an eight-month sentence - he has since been released.
In the following months, police arrested some UK residents at the sea terminal - they were all found to be in possession of either dirty cash or drugs. One such person was Sheila Starkey who was stopped on March 22 with police discovered over £92,000 in a hidden compartment.
In the following month, Kyle Bradley was stopped and found to have over six kilos of cannabis - worth nearly £128,000 - stashed in a hidden car compartment. Police continued to search suspicious cars at the sea terminal, however, traffickers had begun innovating new ways of smuggling drugs and cash.
Georgina Powell was stopped with a female associate and their two young children on July 3. She was found to be in possession of nearly £12,000 which was stashed in her pushchair. Police on the Isle of Man continued to carry out disruption against criminal gang activities with a number of house raids.
On another occasion, police observed local resident Christopher Parket meeting with Greater Manchester resident Bilal Moghul on September 3. The pair reportedly expressed shift behaviours and it was assumed a drug deal had taken police.
A search of Parker's van uncovered 13.5 kilos of cannabis. Meanwhile, another search of his home address uncovered significant amounts of cash - in court Parker claimed he was paid £500 to hold the drugs on someone else's behalf.
Soon after, Isle of Man native Garry Dentith was arrested. According to police, he played a vital role as the crime group's main contact on the island.
He became a character of suspicion when his fingerprints were found on a carrier bag in Harrison's car many months ago. It later came to light that he had communication with Harrison as well as at least four separate members of the traffickign operation.
As part of the police sting, 22 people were arrested, leading to the criminal conviction of 14 people - totalling to nearly 40 years in prison combined.
Thomas Harrison was arrested with £47,530 in criminal cash hidden in his vehicle. Sentenced to 8 months at the Isle of Man Prison. He has since been released.
Jamie Gelling was arrested after he was forensically linked to a carrier bag containing £11,730 of criminal cash. Sentenced to 9 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
Sheila Starkey was arrested with £92,610 in criminal cash hidden in her vehicle. Sentenced to 1 year and 5 months at the Isle of Man Prison and has since been transferred to a prison in the UK.
Kyle Badley was arrested with over 6 kilos of cannabis hidden in his vehicle. Sentenced to 3 years and 2 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
Ian Broadbent was arrested with 4 kilos of cannabis hidden in his vehicle. Sentenced to 3 years and 2 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
John Houghton was charged after being concerned in the importation of over 11 and a half kilos of cannabis to his place of work Sentenced to 3 years and 8 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
Stephen Whitakker was arrested following the delivery of 2 kilos of cannabis to his home address. Sentenced to 1 year and 2 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
Georgina Powell was arrested with £11,940 in criminal cash hidden in a pushchair. Sentenced to 6 months custody, suspended for 12 months. Returned to the UK.
Christopher Corkill was arrested following the delivery of 4 kilos of cannabis to his home address. Sentenced to 2 years and 10 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
Christopher Parker was arrested in possession of over 14 kilos of cannabis and £33,165 in criminal cash. Sentenced to 5 years at the Isle of Man Prison.
Bilal Moghal was arrested after producing over 13 kilos of cannabis to the Island. Sentenced to 4 years and 8 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
Sam Leigh was arrested after producing over 8.5 kilos of cannabis to the Island and attempting to remove £47,970 in criminal cash. Sentenced to 2 years and 5 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
Andrew McGill was arrested with 8.5 kilos of cannabis at his home address. Sentenced to 2 years and 8 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
Garry Dentith was arrested and charged with five counts of money laundering to a value of over £180,000, being concerned in the production of cannabis and, being concerned in the supply of cannabis. He was sentenced to 7 years and 3 months custody at the Isle of Man Prison.
The officer who led the investigation, Detective Inspector Jamie Tomlinson, said: "The successful outcome of the operation was a direct consequence of the dedication, skill and hard work of a small group of detectives. They confronted determined and well-resourced criminals and used a wide range of enforcement techniques to bring them to justice. I am proud of what we have achieved. Our efforts will continue and grow."
Chief Constable Gary Roberts QPM, said: "Organised criminal groups, based both here and in Merseyside, pose a real threat to our way of life. There is nothing romantic or beneficial to the community in the way that these ruthless groups go about their activity. They seek to exploit vulnerable people and they care nothing about the impact of what they do. This is just one operation of several that we have run in recent months, but its success shows our determination to keep this island safe."
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