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| Tip-off led to Kenya heroin plot | Tip-off led to Kenya heroin plot |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A tip-off to a village bobby led to a drugs smuggling gang trying to import £250,000 of heroin from Africa. | A tip-off to a village bobby led to a drugs smuggling gang trying to import £250,000 of heroin from Africa. |
| Garry Henderson, 40, of Broughton, Flintshire, and Clive Minshull, 40, from near Mold, were arrested after a neighbour reported suspicious activity. | |
| They were jailed at Mold Crown Court after admitting conspiracy to supply. | They were jailed at Mold Crown Court after admitting conspiracy to supply. |
| The officer who started the inquiry, Pc Antony Butlin, said there were a few times when he thought it "was getting too big for us to deal with". | The officer who started the inquiry, Pc Antony Butlin, said there were a few times when he thought it "was getting too big for us to deal with". |
| The court heart Pc Butlin led a team of four community beat officers, based at Mold, who raided Minshull's rented home in Sychdyn after the tip-off . | The court heart Pc Butlin led a team of four community beat officers, based at Mold, who raided Minshull's rented home in Sychdyn after the tip-off . |
| Myles Wilson, prosecuting, said the officers found a coffee jar wrapped with tape which contained heroin with a street value of £7,250 as well as £16,000 in cash. | Myles Wilson, prosecuting, said the officers found a coffee jar wrapped with tape which contained heroin with a street value of £7,250 as well as £16,000 in cash. |
| 'Incriminating texts' | 'Incriminating texts' |
| In Henderson's home, police found the same tape and the end fitted like a jigsaw to the tape on the heroin. | In Henderson's home, police found the same tape and the end fitted like a jigsaw to the tape on the heroin. |
| The court was told Henderson was in Kenya at the time. | The court was told Henderson was in Kenya at the time. |
| The gang planned to smuggle up to £250,000 of heroin | The gang planned to smuggle up to £250,000 of heroin |
| Checks on seized bank statements, receipts, mobile telephones and a lap top computer showed incriminating text messages had been sent by Henderson, while in Kenya, to his friend Minshull, it was alleged. | Checks on seized bank statements, receipts, mobile telephones and a lap top computer showed incriminating text messages had been sent by Henderson, while in Kenya, to his friend Minshull, it was alleged. |
| Mr Wilson said they indicated consignments of drugs were being sent via Heathrow airport by a courier or "mule". | Mr Wilson said they indicated consignments of drugs were being sent via Heathrow airport by a courier or "mule". |
| Henderson was arrested on 11 December last year at Heathrow. He did not have any drugs on him and he was bailed. | Henderson was arrested on 11 December last year at Heathrow. He did not have any drugs on him and he was bailed. |
| On 13 January, he was arrested as he was trying to fly out of Heathrow to Kenya again. | On 13 January, he was arrested as he was trying to fly out of Heathrow to Kenya again. |
| Passport checks showed Henderson had been to Kenya four or five times last year and it was from there that he sent text messages such as "it's on" and "ask him to go to airport and bring bag" to Minshull. | Passport checks showed Henderson had been to Kenya four or five times last year and it was from there that he sent text messages such as "it's on" and "ask him to go to airport and bring bag" to Minshull. |
| Judge John Rogers QC said Henderson was at the heart of an international heroin smuggling conspiracy and they had previously admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin. | Judge John Rogers QC said Henderson was at the heart of an international heroin smuggling conspiracy and they had previously admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin. |
| Heroin and cash were found in Minshull's rented house | Heroin and cash were found in Minshull's rented house |
| But the judge said that there was no evidence that any heroin actually came in as part of the conspiracy. | But the judge said that there was no evidence that any heroin actually came in as part of the conspiracy. |
| He told Henderson: "Your part, on your own admission, was to travel out to Kenya on no fewer than four occasions in order to assist the carriers in their preparation for the very risky journey from Nairobi to Heathrow through various customs authorities. | He told Henderson: "Your part, on your own admission, was to travel out to Kenya on no fewer than four occasions in order to assist the carriers in their preparation for the very risky journey from Nairobi to Heathrow through various customs authorities. |
| "It was a very important part in that substantial conspiracy." | "It was a very important part in that substantial conspiracy." |
| Henderson also admitted supplying the drug and was jailed for eight years. | Henderson also admitted supplying the drug and was jailed for eight years. |
| Minshull was jailed for three-and-a-half years for supplying heroin. | Minshull was jailed for three-and-a-half years for supplying heroin. |
| Henderson must produce an affidavit of all his means, savings and income, so that an investigation can be carried out under The Proceeds of Crime Act and a financial hearing will be held in March. | Henderson must produce an affidavit of all his means, savings and income, so that an investigation can be carried out under The Proceeds of Crime Act and a financial hearing will be held in March. |
| Pc Butlin said: "We're a team of four, not detectives. But we followed it through right from the start and it's been nice to keep the job and be here today for the sentencing. | Pc Butlin said: "We're a team of four, not detectives. But we followed it through right from the start and it's been nice to keep the job and be here today for the sentencing. |
| "It is a clear message that North Wales Police will not tolerate drug dealing at any level and we are prepared to investigate people internationally if we need to.". | "It is a clear message that North Wales Police will not tolerate drug dealing at any level and we are prepared to investigate people internationally if we need to.". |