This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8410374.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| The story behind biggest-ever heroin seizure | The story behind biggest-ever heroin seizure |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| By Chris Summers BBC News Kuster (top right) drove through Customs with the drugs in his car | By Chris Summers BBC News Kuster (top right) drove through Customs with the drugs in his car |
| In April last year £30m worth of heroin was seized at a motorway service station in Kent - believed to be the largest amount ever seized by UK police. Three men behind it were jailed for a total of 55 years on Monday. | In April last year £30m worth of heroin was seized at a motorway service station in Kent - believed to be the largest amount ever seized by UK police. Three men behind it were jailed for a total of 55 years on Monday. |
| On 3 April 2008 Patrick Kuster borrowed his mother's car, loaded it with 13 boxes of heroin, weighing a total of 330.7kg (727lb), and drove it through customs at the port of Dover. | On 3 April 2008 Patrick Kuster borrowed his mother's car, loaded it with 13 boxes of heroin, weighing a total of 330.7kg (727lb), and drove it through customs at the port of Dover. |
| At around 1pm the Dutchman was waved through with his cargo, worth an estimated £33m on the streets of Britain. | At around 1pm the Dutchman was waved through with his cargo, worth an estimated £33m on the streets of Britain. |
| 'Smorgasbord' of drugs | 'Smorgasbord' of drugs |
| He must have breathed a huge sigh of relief. | He must have breathed a huge sigh of relief. |
| Kuster drove to a service station at Maidstone, where several couriers were due to meet him and pick up part of the consignment on behalf of various syndicates. | Kuster drove to a service station at Maidstone, where several couriers were due to meet him and pick up part of the consignment on behalf of various syndicates. |
| The heroin was wrapped in half and one kilo blocks and packed into boxes | The heroin was wrapped in half and one kilo blocks and packed into boxes |
| At 3.40pm Kuster's good fortune came to an end when police swooped on him and a man called Harminder Chana, who was collecting on behalf of a London gang. | At 3.40pm Kuster's good fortune came to an end when police swooped on him and a man called Harminder Chana, who was collecting on behalf of a London gang. |
| A third man, Atif Khan, was arrested later that day. | A third man, Atif Khan, was arrested later that day. |
| Detective Inspector Marion Ryan, of the Metropolitan Police's Central Task Force, takes up the story: "Kuster was not the original object. We were targeting other members of an organised crime network." | Detective Inspector Marion Ryan, of the Metropolitan Police's Central Task Force, takes up the story: "Kuster was not the original object. We were targeting other members of an organised crime network." |
| She said Khan and Chana were under surveillance, following intelligence which had been received about them being involved in drug smuggling. | She said Khan and Chana were under surveillance, following intelligence which had been received about them being involved in drug smuggling. |
| Det Insp Ryan said: "We were not expecting such a huge amount of heroin in one delivery. The boot was full and the car was laden up to the roof with brown boxes. They were even in the front seat." | Det Insp Ryan said: "We were not expecting such a huge amount of heroin in one delivery. The boot was full and the car was laden up to the roof with brown boxes. They were even in the front seat." |
| We were not expecting such a huge amount of heroin in one delivery Detective Inspector Marion Ryan Three jailed over heroin seizure | We were not expecting such a huge amount of heroin in one delivery Detective Inspector Marion Ryan Three jailed over heroin seizure |
| She said: "The purity was quite high and it would have been enough to keep 8,000 addicts supplied for a year." | She said: "The purity was quite high and it would have been enough to keep 8,000 addicts supplied for a year." |
| This week the final defendant in what became known as Operation Frant, Abdul Matalib Shammin Rob, 30, of Ilford, east London, was convicted of conspiracy to supply heroin. | This week the final defendant in what became known as Operation Frant, Abdul Matalib Shammin Rob, 30, of Ilford, east London, was convicted of conspiracy to supply heroin. |
| Although Rob was not present, mobile phone evidence proved he was part of a syndicate who had bought 48.7kg (107lb) of the heroin, worth around £3m. | Although Rob was not present, mobile phone evidence proved he was part of a syndicate who had bought 48.7kg (107lb) of the heroin, worth around £3m. |
| Jeremy Carter-Manning QC, told Rob's trial at Kingston Crown Court: "The imported consignment appears to have been destined for at least three consortia or individuals." | Jeremy Carter-Manning QC, told Rob's trial at Kingston Crown Court: "The imported consignment appears to have been destined for at least three consortia or individuals." |
| Kuster was jailed for 26 years. | Kuster was jailed for 26 years. |
| Chana, 32, was sentenced to 17 years, Rob, 30, to 23 years and Khan, 34, to 15-and-a-half years. | |
| Part of the biggest ever haul of heroin seized by UK police | Part of the biggest ever haul of heroin seized by UK police |
| Mr Carter-Manning said that after Kuster and Chana's arrest, police went to a house in Beckton, east London and found equipment "which was clearly of use in the preparation of large quantities of heroin for onward re-sale and supply". | Mr Carter-Manning said that after Kuster and Chana's arrest, police went to a house in Beckton, east London and found equipment "which was clearly of use in the preparation of large quantities of heroin for onward re-sale and supply". |
| Mr Carter-Manning said this included mannitol, a cutting agent for heroin, scales, paper and foil, gloves and a "virtual smorgasbord" of drugs in plastic bags. | Mr Carter-Manning said this included mannitol, a cutting agent for heroin, scales, paper and foil, gloves and a "virtual smorgasbord" of drugs in plastic bags. |
| A second "safe house" was later found near London City Airport. | A second "safe house" was later found near London City Airport. |
| Rob, who was only arrested in November 2008, had called Khan 26 times in a 45-minute period after Khan's arrest and sent a text which said: "I'm looking so stupid, 4 one hour they keep calling asking how long and I ain't got an answer cos u r not picking up." | Rob, who was only arrested in November 2008, had called Khan 26 times in a 45-minute period after Khan's arrest and sent a text which said: "I'm looking so stupid, 4 one hour they keep calling asking how long and I ain't got an answer cos u r not picking up." |
| The dealers who Rob had clearly promised his drugs to were clearly not happy with him. | The dealers who Rob had clearly promised his drugs to were clearly not happy with him. |
| 'Suicide run' | 'Suicide run' |
| At his trial Rob claimed his frantic calls were connected to an accident which somebody had suffered at a factory he owned but this story was a fabrication. | At his trial Rob claimed his frantic calls were connected to an accident which somebody had suffered at a factory he owned but this story was a fabrication. |
| Kuster, a former lorry driver with the Dutch firm Nedexco, had been acquitted previously of another conspiracy in which drugs were smuggled in buckets of mayonnaise. | Kuster, a former lorry driver with the Dutch firm Nedexco, had been acquitted previously of another conspiracy in which drugs were smuggled in buckets of mayonnaise. |
| But on 3 April 2008 he was just "bluffing his way" through customs, said Det Insp Ryan. | But on 3 April 2008 he was just "bluffing his way" through customs, said Det Insp Ryan. |
| "He was on a bit of a suicide run," she said, adding that he claimed he had only been paid 500 euros for the trip. | "He was on a bit of a suicide run," she said, adding that he claimed he had only been paid 500 euros for the trip. |
| Det Insp Ryan said: "Rob and Khan were investors who stood to make a lot of money. There were clearly other criminal Mr Bigs who put up money but stayed well clear of the drugs." | Det Insp Ryan said: "Rob and Khan were investors who stood to make a lot of money. There were clearly other criminal Mr Bigs who put up money but stayed well clear of the drugs." |
| Hearings under the Proceeds of Crime Act will now seek to confiscate assets belonging to Rob and Khan and an investigation is still ongoing in the Netherlands into the supplier. | Hearings under the Proceeds of Crime Act will now seek to confiscate assets belonging to Rob and Khan and an investigation is still ongoing in the Netherlands into the supplier. |
| Det Insp Ryan said: "It was highly significant because it would have had a huge impact on the organisers. They will have already paid up and it will seriously disrupt their activities." | Det Insp Ryan said: "It was highly significant because it would have had a huge impact on the organisers. They will have already paid up and it will seriously disrupt their activities." |