Heroin smuggled in spare tyre
13 Oct 2006 03:45 PM
Two Wakefield men were jailed for a total of 24 years today at Hull
Crown Court for attempting to smuggle over £725,000 worth of the
deadly street drug heroin into the UK. The 14.5 kilos of heroin were
discovered by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers concealed in the
spare tyre of the vehicle driven by one of the men.
McKay was stopped by HMRC officers after arriving at Hull ferry port
from Rotterdam on 8 February 2006. McKay claimed to be travelling
alone and that the vehicle he was driving was registered to him.
After searching the vehicle, officers detected 28 packages hidden
within the spare wheel of the 4 x 4 jeep being driven by McKay. The
packages contained diamorphine, which is also known as the street
drug heroin. McKay was arrested and later charged with attempting to
smuggle Heroin into the UK.
Patrick Arthur McKay, 52 was found guilty of the offence on Tuesday
10 October 2006 and was today sentenced to 12 years in jail. His
father-in-law, 63-year old Gordon Crabtree, had already pleaded
guilty to his part in the offence at an earlier hearing and was today
sentenced to 12 years in jail.
HMRC's Head of Detection in Hull and Yorkshire John Kinghorn said:
"This large seizure is a first class detection resulting from the
expertise of all the officers involved. It will have disrupted a
number of criminal enterprises in the area and caused significant
financial damage to the organised crime gang involved. In addition we
have stopped a large amount of Class A drugs reaching the streets of
our towns and cities.
"HMRC is keen to work closely with local people and communities in
the fight against organised crime and this is why I would urge
members of the public if they know of any smuggling activities in
their area, to please call the HMRC confidential free phone on 0800
59 5000."
HH Judge Jack said of Crabtree: "This was a huge amount of Class A
drugs capable of bringing misery to hundreds and thousands of
families. I am satisfied that you were involved in an international
drugs smuggling ring and that your activities over the past three
years has been worth nine million pounds and 90 kilos of pure heroin.
You have sunk so low and involved your son-in-law, McKay, the effect
of which will mean he will also serve a long prison sentence."
After further investigation, officers found that the vehicle used in
the smuggling attempt was in fact owned by McKay's father-in-law,
Gordon Crabtree. Officers also discovered that despite claiming to
have travelled alone, McKay and Crabtree had both travelled on the
ferry from Rotterdam, in separate vehicles and booking separate
sleeping cabins to avoid being seen together.
Officers visited Crabtree at his home in Wakefield, where he was
arrested and taken for questioning. Both men said that their trip was
to meet with friends but during his interview Crabtree admitted to
'delivering' large amounts of cash to Amsterdam, hidden in the spare
wheel, and on this trip to 'training' McKay to help with the
deliveries.
This case was successfully prosecuted by the Revenue & Customs
Prosecutions Office (RCPO). RCPO is an independent prosecuting
authority, which reports to the Attorney General, and is responsible
for the prosecution of all HMRC cases in England & Wales.
Notes for editors
1. Details of the two men: Gordon Crabtree, DOB 12/7/43 of Grange
Moor, Nr Wakefield and Patrick Arthur McKay, DOB 18/3/54 of Grange
Moor, Nr Wakefield.
2. 14.5kg of diamorphine (heroin) has a street value in excess of
£725,000
3. The Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) was created by
Royal Assent on 7 April 2005. An independent prosecuting authority,
RCPO reports directly to the Attorney General, and is responsible for
prosecuting some of the largest drug and fraud cases in the UK.
Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press Office
Website www.hmrc.gov.uk