TODAY for the first time we can reveal the full story of the Bolton criminals at the centre of a £300 million drugs ring.
Now the final defendant, Philip Baron, has pleaded guilty we can finally tell how police from across the world carried out a five-year investigation to trap the criminals.
The Bolton members of the drugs ring paid for their lavish lifestyles of multi-million pound homes, fast cars and glamorous nights out with cash made from huge drug deals, some carried out in this borough.
And it was only when officers from Serious and Organised Crime Association intercepted a huge consignment of drugs, destined for an "office" in Bromley Cross, that the gang's reign was over.
Sixteen police forces worked together to arrest 89 people, 18 of those being caught overseas.
Judge David Aubrey, who has jailed a number of the criminals, said three years ago that the conspiracy was the “largest multi commodity conspiracy in the UK to date”.”
Baron, from Eccles, dubbed the “Silent Godfather” for his role in the gang, faced up to his crimes at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday — nearly two years after he was arrested in Ireland.
He masqueraded as a property developer in an attempt to disguise his crimes.
Baron admitted conspiracy to import 60kg of cocaine, conspiracy to import cannabis and entering into money laundering arrangements.
Judge David Aubrey QC warned Baron he would face a “substantial custodial sentence”.
He will be sentenced on June 14.
The 57-year-old had fought extradition from Ireland and his wife even offered a £70,000 ring as surety to grant him bail — the request was rejected.
Baron’s guilty plea comes after gang members Paul Yearsley, aged 46, Michael Pollard, aged 49, of Rydal Crescent, Walkden, Trevor Holland, aged 34, of Brazley Avenue in Horwich and Tony Dixon, aged 41, of Lee Lane, Horwich, were jailed.
Yearsley, of Knowsley Manor in Heaton, was arrested after SOCA officers put him under surveillance and interrupted an operation to handover 120 kilos of cannabis resin, which was likely to have been sourced from North Africa. The drugs had a wholesale value of between £90,000 and £145,000, with a street value of more than £300,000. He was jailed for five years and six months.
Dixon, of Lee Lane in Horwich, was jailed for two years, eight months.
The men were arrested after Yearsley went to meet them at Middlebrook Retail Park on December 18, 2009. They were caught by officers observing Yearsley.
Holland and his brother-in-law, Pollard were arrested after the owners of an office used by the pair in Cheltenham became suspicious and opened a box and found 40 kilos of cocaine instead of the technical manuals it was supposed to contain.
Holland was sentenced to 20 years behind bars and Pollard 23 years.
The drug lords are estimated to have dealt with more than 50 tonnes of drugs amounting to a £300million street value.
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