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Inmate jailed for smuggling ring | Inmate jailed for smuggling ring |
(10 minutes later) | |
A convicted drug dealer from Liverpool who ran an international cocaine ring from his prison cell using a mobile phone has been jailed for 18 years. | A convicted drug dealer from Liverpool who ran an international cocaine ring from his prison cell using a mobile phone has been jailed for 18 years. |
George Moon, 62, admitted importing cocaine using DHL and Royal Mail Parcel Force, Liverpool Crown Court heard. | George Moon, 62, admitted importing cocaine using DHL and Royal Mail Parcel Force, Liverpool Crown Court heard. |
He used a contraband mobile phone at HMP Lindholme in Doncaster to contact Leo Morgan, from Birmingham, an inmate at El Renacer Prison in Panama. | He used a contraband mobile phone at HMP Lindholme in Doncaster to contact Leo Morgan, from Birmingham, an inmate at El Renacer Prison in Panama. |
They plotted to smuggle cocaine with a street value of £300,000 into the UK. | They plotted to smuggle cocaine with a street value of £300,000 into the UK. |
Moon, from Liverpool, was already serving a 14-year sentence for earlier importations of cocaine in 2003, when he contacted Morgan in South America. | Moon, from Liverpool, was already serving a 14-year sentence for earlier importations of cocaine in 2003, when he contacted Morgan in South America. |
You were able, while a prisoner, to access mobile phones Judge Bryn Holloway | You were able, while a prisoner, to access mobile phones Judge Bryn Holloway |
Judge Bryn Holloway said it "beggars belief" how Moon was able to access a mobile phone and two sim cards while in prison. | |
He added: "The fact you were able to do that in an English prison raises questions over the levels of supervision and control over you. | He added: "The fact you were able to do that in an English prison raises questions over the levels of supervision and control over you. |
"You were able, while a prisoner, to access mobile phones. An even more extraordinary fact was the South America end of this conspiracy was being run by an Englishman who was, at the time, a prisoner in Panama." | "You were able, while a prisoner, to access mobile phones. An even more extraordinary fact was the South America end of this conspiracy was being run by an Englishman who was, at the time, a prisoner in Panama." |
The court was told Morgan received phone calls from Moon on a smuggled mobile and then used contacts in Latin America to arrange the consignments. | The court was told Morgan received phone calls from Moon on a smuggled mobile and then used contacts in Latin America to arrange the consignments. |
The parcels, made to look like engineering parts, were sent to Cork, Ireland, and then brought into the UK by fellow gang members. | The parcels, made to look like engineering parts, were sent to Cork, Ireland, and then brought into the UK by fellow gang members. |
Packages were also sent to UK addresses linked to Moon's gang. | Packages were also sent to UK addresses linked to Moon's gang. |
Moon then used a false name to pretend he wanted to rent storage space from a landlord in Ireland, whom he convinced to accept the drug deliveries for him. | Moon then used a false name to pretend he wanted to rent storage space from a landlord in Ireland, whom he convinced to accept the drug deliveries for him. |
The plot was exposed in May 2008 when former soldier Lee Standeven, 24, of Clapgate Crescent, Widnes, posted him a parcel of heroin and mobile Sim cards. | The plot was exposed in May 2008 when former soldier Lee Standeven, 24, of Clapgate Crescent, Widnes, posted him a parcel of heroin and mobile Sim cards. |
The court heard prison guards were suspicious when the envelope arrived with a Ministry of Justice emblem on it - but it was sent from Cheshire. | The court heard prison guards were suspicious when the envelope arrived with a Ministry of Justice emblem on it - but it was sent from Cheshire. |
A sniffer dog indicated it contained drugs and the envelope was opened. | A sniffer dog indicated it contained drugs and the envelope was opened. |
A notebook, seized from Moon's prison cell, containing phone numbers and details about the gang, helped police crack the case. | A notebook, seized from Moon's prison cell, containing phone numbers and details about the gang, helped police crack the case. |
Standeven was jailed for five years after admitting supplying Moon heroin and contraband Sim cards. | Standeven was jailed for five years after admitting supplying Moon heroin and contraband Sim cards. |
Four other accomplices were all jailed for between five and eight years for their involvement. | Four other accomplices were all jailed for between five and eight years for their involvement. |