A MAN who admitted his role in a major drugs ring has been jailed for nine years.

Alan Russell, aged 53, from Green Common Lane, Westhoughton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a class B drug when he appeared in court on Tuesday, the day a trial was due to start.

Yesterday Plymouth Crown Court was told Russell was the transport manager in the conspiracy which arranged for about 9.5 tonnes of cannabis worth up to £16 million to be transported into the UK from Spain in four imports.

The court heard how customs officers stopped Russell's BMW on a routine check in Plymouth when he tried to catch the ferry to Santander in April 2001.

After an investigation, officials discovered he had been playing a central role in a drugs smuggling ring, pocketing almost £500,000 profit over a 14-month period.

Judge Shaun Overend said Russell had been "richly rewarded" for his services in the conspiracy and that he received a total of £440,000 over the 14 months.

He said the trappings of his "illegal bounty" were found in the form of £106,000 worth of cash in his home or car, the £85,000 he spent on buying three BMWs, a diamond ring worth £22,000, and a luxury South American holiday.

He said: "You were just one step removed from the top of the conspiracy and were richly rewarded for your services. You played for high stakes and you gained high rewards pursuing the illegal objective of supplying class B drugs to the underground market.

"Thanks to the vigilance of Customs and Excise at Plymouth, your criminal activities have been discovered."

Identical charges of conspiracy to supply cannabis against Russell's son Lee Russell, of Settle Street, Great Lever, were dropped after no evidence was offered by the prosecution.

After the case a customs spokesman, said: "An excellent detection of cash by vigilant customs officers has resulted in the breaking up of a large-scale smuggling organisation.

"The sentence passed should serve as a strong warning to anybody who is tempted to get involved in drug smuggling."