Drug gang jailed for 166 years

Crack cocaine was among the drugs the men imported

Members of a gang who imported drugs with a street value of £200m have been jailed for a total of 166 years.

Gerald McLeish, the leader of the eight-strong gang, was sent to prison for 35 years after the operation in the north west of England was smashed.

Bolton Crown Court heard the men imported drugs such as crack cocaine and amphetamine from Europe by using the name of a legitimate car company to disguise the cargo.

The jury heard the men had specific titles, such as regional sales co-ordinator and managing director, all supposedly working for a company called Augustus Services.

Greater Manchester Police described the gang's operation, from an industrial estate in Bury, Greater Manchester as "sophisticated and professional".

The men, from Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Coventry, were tracked down by police, under Operation Torch, which was set up in November 2000.

The men went to a lot of time and trouble to ensure everyone had a role within the organisation

Detective Superintendent Peter Stelfox

The drugs were imported, disguised as deliveries of motor parts, through the use of crates carrying the name of a Belgian car importer.

The operation was uncovered in 25 April 2001 when officers raided an industrial unit.

Eight kilos of cocaine, more than 315,000 ecstasy tablets, 45 kilos of amphetamine and 27 kilos of cannabis were found.

After the sentencing on Friday, Detective Superintendent Peter Stelfox said the gang behaved like a "legitimate business".

"The men went to a lot of time and trouble to ensure everyone had a role within the organisation," he said.

Concurrent sentences

"As well as setting up very elaborate bogus companies the group also used innocent businesses and individuals to hide their real operations."

Because some of the sentences will run concurrently, the actual number of years the men will serve is 112.

Those jailed all either pleaded guilty, or were found guilty by the jury, of conspiracy to import class A and B drugs.

They are:

Gerald McLeish, 43, from Clifton Close in Heywood, Greater Manchester, who was sentenced to 24 years for conspiracy to import Class A drugs and 11 years for conspiracy to import Class B, to run concurrently.

Christian Wolfendale, 35, of Cross Lane, Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, who was sentenced to 14 years for Class A and seven years for Class B, to run concurrently.

Simon Balshaw, 30, from Rupert Street in Radcliffe, who was sentenced to 10 years for class A and five years for class B, to run concurrently.

Committed suicide

Ian Longden, 39, Beardwood Avenue, Blackley, Manchester, was sentenced to 11 years for class A and five years for class B to run concurrently.

Paul Earle, 36, from Radway Road, Liverpool, was sentenced to 18 months for Class B drugs offences.

Paul Bell, 38, from Hardcastle Gardens, Bradshaw Fold, Bolton, was sentenced to 20 years for Class A and 11 years for Class B, to run concurrently.

Paul Dunn, 34, of Beech Avenue, Prescot, Merseyside, was sentenced to 12 years for Class A and six years for Class B, to run concurrently.

Nigel Hughes, 36, from Cricket Close, Coventry, was sentenced to 20 years for Class A and 10 years for Class B, to run concurrently.

The jury failed to reach a verdict on two other men, and another man committed suicide before the case got to court.