Thirteen men have been arrested on suspicion of smuggling drugs worth millions of pounds into the UK. The suspects were arrested in London, Manchester, Stockport, St Helens, Warrington, Bolton, Dewsbury and Leeds, suspected of smuggling drugs through UK ports over an 18-month period.
Authorities believe they belong to the UK arm of a group which uses Dutch and British front companies to import heroin, cocaine and cannabis by hiding them in lorry loads of vegetables and juice.
The full extent of the drug trafficking operation came to light in September 2018, when three consignments were intercepted. They contained 351kg of cocaine, 92kg of heroin, 250kg of cannabis and 1,850kg of hemp/hashish, with a street value of £38 mln.
Dutch and British front companies
According to an article on sky.com, it was the UK's biggest ever drugs racket, with the cocaine, heroin and cannabis coming into the country from Holland hidden on lorries of vegetables and juice. This seems to be the work of the UK arm of a well-established organised crime group that used Dutch and British front companies to import heroin, cocaine and cannabis - in lorries packed with vegetables and juice - through British ports over an 18-month period.
Four men and two women have also been arrested in Holland by Dutch police on European Arrest Warrants. They are awaiting extradition to the UK.
