Detectives intercepted a lorry carrying £300 million worth of drugs in what is being hailed as the 'UK's largest mainland drugs seizure'. The drugs - a metric tonne of heroin and ketamine with a street value of £300 million - were intended for delivery to the North West by a -based team recruited by drug bosses. But unbeknownst to them, their every move was being monitored by police. The massive drug bust was the result of a covert operation by Greater Manchester Police, who acted on intelligence to seize the shipment, which had been imported into the country via a southern port. The HGV, which concealed the drugs within bags of basmati rice, was intercepted at Keele services off the M6. Two Wigan men have since been brought to justice for their involvement in the staggering seizure. Craig Parr, who reportedly led the logistics team, was sentenced to 16-and-a-half years in
prison, while Andrew Tait, who provided 'muscle' and organisational support, received an 18-year sentence. Manchester Crown Court heard a significant quantity of heroin, 785 kilos, and 294 kilos of ketamine was imported into the
UK by sea through Felixstowe port in the south east of
England. The court heard the shipment started its journey from
Pakistan, then travelled via
India before reaching the UK where its importation was organised through a 'sham' company with an address in
London, reports . One of the named directors didn't exist and the other was under the name of an innocent individual whose identity had been stolen. After the shipping container carrying the drugs arrived in the UK, it was transported to a distribution yard in Essex. Approximately two weeks prior, a man from Wigan named Stephen King had rented a van from Salford Van Hire. He was later apprehended by
police driving the van, which contained the large haul of drugs. King denied any wrongdoing and has since passed away. Parr, thought to be a landscape gardener, and Tait, a joiner, both with limited criminal records, were recruited to help transport the enormous load from the South to its intended destination in the North West. The pair, both 42 year old dads, were not accused of being involved in the importation of the drugs. On January 29, 2020, the day the shipment arrived in the UK, both men travelled to Essex, prosecutor Matthew Conway said. They ended up staying two nights in a nearby Premier Inn due to damage to the shipping container delaying their task. It wasn't until two days later, on January 31, that they began their journey to deliver the drugs to the North West. Photos of Parr were captured as he fastened the straps of the concealed load within the lorry. Prosecutors claim Moss Side farm in Lancashire, near Bickerstaffe, was to be the drug's ultimate destination. However, the police kept a watchful eye on the HGV piloted by King. After exiting the M6 into Keele services, the truck was intercepted by officers. Three others and Tait were apprehended at the farm. Parr, realising 'the game was up', was picked up days later from a hotel in Newcastle. Parr, who resides on Barnham Close, Golborne, Wigan, confessed to conspiring to distribute class A and B drugs. Meanwhile, Tait, of Tram Street, Platt Bridge, was found guilty of the same offences following a trial. During sentencing, Judge Tom Gilbart remarked: "The weight of the drugs was vast, the value of the drugs was immense." According to Parr and Tait, they received £500 and £300 per day respectively for their participation in the transportation. Stephen King, aged 44, and residing at Pipit Avenue, Newton-Le-Willows, was put on trial for similar charges which he refuted. The initial court proceedings into the matter had to be cancelled in 2021 and before a second trail could take place, he passed away. In a police statement post his arrest, he admitted to having collected packages but denied being aware they encompassed drugs. Three other men, who were accused of involvement, were acquitted at the second trial, which concluded in December last year. John Hayden, 60, of Roman Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Ian
Washington, 55, of Edge Green Lane, Golborne, Wigan, and Paul Adair, 48, of Beech Grove, Wigan, were all found not guilty of conspiring to supply class A and B drugs. Defending Parr, Michael Lavery said the defendant was a 'logistics man' who was not involved in the buying or selling of the drugs. He has spent four years in jail since his arrest in March 2020 after an early guilty plea, awaiting the conclusion of the trials. Mr Lavery said there was no evidence of Parr leading a lavish lifestyle, and said he was offered pay of £500 a day plus expenses. He described Parr as a 'good family man' who has 'expressed considerable remorse'. Gareth Roberts, for Tait, said the defendant hadn't initially been aware of the 'magnitude' of the drugs involved. He said Tait had been recruited as 'muscle' for 'minimal reward'. After the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Tony Norman from GMP's Serious Organised Crime Group remarked: "This investigation spanned over three months where we had specialist detectives working around the clock, observing the men go about their daily businesses, often doing very mundane tasks. We knew they were involved in criminality, and that something significant was being planned the day King hired the HGV, but it was a case of being patient and vigilant to make sure we didn't miss anything. "This discovery is the UK's largest mainland drugs seizure, and there's no denying the devastation it would have had on our communities had this product made its way to Manchester. This proactive investigation meant we were able to stop that and prevent future harm. "I'm grateful to the Criminal Prosecution Service and Counsel whose involvement in this complex case was crucial. They worked closely with us throughout the investigation, over four years, to piece together the evidence which ultimately led to the convictions of these men."