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Drugs baron guilty over £1m plot Drugs baron guilty over £1m plot
(21 minutes later)
A drugs baron has been found guilty of conspiring to import £1m of cannabis into Jersey by boat from Amsterdam.A drugs baron has been found guilty of conspiring to import £1m of cannabis into Jersey by boat from Amsterdam.
Jurors at Jersey Royal Court convicted Merseyside gangster Curtis Warren of conspiring to import a controlled drug.Jurors at Jersey Royal Court convicted Merseyside gangster Curtis Warren of conspiring to import a controlled drug.
During the two-week trial the court had heard that Mr Warren, 46, of Liverpool, wanted to flood the Jersey drugs market with cannabis. During the two-week trial the court had heard that Warren, 46, of Liverpool, wanted to flood the Jersey drugs market with cannabis.
Jurors also found five other men, accused of working with Mr Warren, guilty of the same charge. Jurors also found five other men, accused of working with Warren, guilty of the same charge.
John Welsh, 43, also from Liverpool, James O'Brien, 45, of Glasgow, Jason Woodward, 22, of Dartford, Kent, Paul Hunt, 27, and Oliver Lucas, 23, had denied a charge of conspiring to import drugs.John Welsh, 43, also from Liverpool, James O'Brien, 45, of Glasgow, Jason Woodward, 22, of Dartford, Kent, Paul Hunt, 27, and Oliver Lucas, 23, had denied a charge of conspiring to import drugs.
No emotionNo emotion
During the trial the court heard how the gang planned to buy 180kg of cannabis in Amsterdam and bring it into an isolated cove in Jersey by boat.During the trial the court heard how the gang planned to buy 180kg of cannabis in Amsterdam and bring it into an isolated cove in Jersey by boat.
Mr Warren showed no emotion as the jury returned its unanimous verdict after nine hours of deliberation. Warren showed no emotion as the jury returned its unanimous verdict after nine hours of deliberation.
Police surveillance teams and bugging devices were used to record Mr Warren arranging with associates to obtain and transfer the cannabis haul. Police surveillance teams and bugging devices were used to record Warren arranging with associates to obtain and transfer the cannabis haul.
The jury heard that in one conversation Mr Warren described the plot as "just a little starter". The jury heard that in one conversation Warren described the plot as "just a little starter".
Mr Warren was the ring-leader of the gang and the key link between the sale in Holland and buyers in Jersey, jurors heard. Warren was the ring-leader of the gang and the key link between the sale in Holland and buyers in Jersey, jurors heard.
"He was the man at the top who pulled the strings. He had considerable clout and influence and we say he orchestrated this conspiracy," Crown Advocate Howard Sharp had said."He was the man at the top who pulled the strings. He had considerable clout and influence and we say he orchestrated this conspiracy," Crown Advocate Howard Sharp had said.
Mr Warren was once Interpol's most wanted drugs trafficker and, even after a decade in a Dutch jail, police still consider him to be one of Britain's most wealthy and influential criminals, the court heard. 'Police are liars'
During the trial defence lawyers said the case against the six men was "laughable" and that there were "no drugs, no money, no boat".
Advocate Stephen Baker, representing Warren, also criticised Jersey police.
"You can't rely on this crown case, on these police officers. They're liars, they're cheats and they daren't even go into the witness box to tell you the truth," he said.
Warren was once Interpol's most wanted drugs trafficker and, even after a decade in a Dutch jail, police still consider him to be one of Britain's most wealthy and influential criminals, the court heard.