AN international drug smuggling gang used a "virtual office" as a cover for their illegal activities, a court heard.

The gang of eight men, including Bolton man Paul Bell, aged 37, of Hardcastle Apartments, Bradshaw Hall Drive, Bradshaw, allegedly set-up an account with a London based company called Message Mail.

This gave the impression that the offices of their hoax company, Augustus Services, were in the capital, where they could be contacted and mail could be directed.

Bell, along with seven other men, deny two charges of conspiracy to sell Class A and conspiracy to sell Class B drugs. The others are; Gerald McLeish, aged 42, of Clifton Close, Heywood, Paul Earle, aged 31, of Bradway Road, Huyton, Merseyside, Ian Longden, aged 38, of Ridgeway Street, Ancoats, Manchester, Paul Dunn, aged 34, of Beech Avenue, Prescott, Merseyside, Christopher King, aged 38, of Walsingham Avenue, Middelton, Nigel Hughes, aged 33, of Cricket Close, Chapelfield, Coventry, Paul Wyatt, aged 38, of Mancroft Road, Caddington, Bedfordshire, all denied two charges of conspiracy to sell Class A and conspiracy to sell Class B drugs.

It is alleged they imported drugs with a street value of up to £200 million.

The jury has heard how containers half-filled with engine spare parts were sent to the continent by Augustus Services where they were collected.

The prosecution alleged that they were returned with drugs hidden inside to an address in West Thurrock in Yorkshire where the gang arranged collection and took them to industrial units in Radcliffe and Failsworth.

When police raided the Beesley Industrial Estate in Radcliffe, they found drugs worth up to £4.1 million.

The court heard previously that the gang had allegedly smuggled cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy with a street value of up to £200m.

(Proceeding)