THIRTY YEARS FOR DRUGS DUO

8 Nov 2002 02:45 PM

Two men found guilty in July 2002 for smuggling nearly £4 million worth of drugs by helicopter into the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, were today sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court.

Patrick DOHERTY (44) of Flat 1 Wing House, Wing Road, Leysdown-on-Sea and Michael HAHN (36) of 108 Ambleside Avenue, Bristol, both received fifteen years each.

Assistant Chief Investigation Officer Jim Fitzpatrick said:

"We are pleased these men have been convicted and jailed. We will continue to ensure they do not profit from their crimes and take every penny they've made from their illicit activity."

Notes for editors

1. Background to this operation was released earlier in the year in HM Customs and Excise National News Release 52/02:

Isle of Sheppey drugs duo found guilty

Customs foils helicopter drug import attempt

A Customs and Excise and Kent police operation ended today when two men were found guilty at Maidstone Crown Court for their part in a drugs trafficking organisation that operated out of Kent.

Patrick DOHERTY of Leysdown-on-Sea, Isle of Sheppey and Bristol man Michael HAHN were arrested on 10 August last year after Customs seized nearly £4 million worth of drugs in two holdalls that contained 49,770 MDMA (ecstasy) tablets and 56.4 kilogrammes of amphetamine sulphate, also known as 'speed'. The holdalls were flown in by helicopter to the Isle of Sheppey.

Customs law enforcement officers were watching as DOHERTY collected the holdalls in the early hours of 10 August from the helicopter that had landed at a 'pitch and putt' course at Shellness Road, Leysdown on Sea. He was assisted by Michael HAHN, both were today found guilty of attempting to import drugs to the UK.

Patrick Doherty was arrested in a vehicle parked on the driveway of a lock-up garage at 15 Leysdown Road. Customs and police recovered the holdalls and £3,500 from the boot of another vehicle driven by Doherty that was parked nearby and used frequently by the gang.

HAHN was arrested shortly afterwards at 169, Sheppy Beach Villas, Leysdown on Sea, Isle of Sheppy. Customs also seized £46,000 cash from Reeves's Orpington address in their back garden shed. A third defendant Terence REEVES from Orpington in Kent was also charged in relation to the same offence but later died of an unrelated illness whilst on bail.

The helicopter was later identified landing in Belgium where the pilot was arrested by the Belgian police. Throughout the whole six-month surveillance operation it became clear that Doherty was travelling almost weekly to the near continent on the Channel Tunnel. Hahn had also been seen making the same trip.

Assistant Chief Investigation Officer Jim Fitzpatrick said:

"This gang were operating a drugs trafficking network right on people's doorsteps. As a result of close co-operation between Customs, police and the Belgian authorities these menaces, their drugs and their dirty money have been taken off our streets. We will now ensure that they do not profit from their crimes and strip them of every penny they've made from their illicit activity."

Doherty and Hahn were all charged with offences relating to the importation of ecstasy and amphetamine sulphate.

2. Ecstasy is a Class A drug and amphetamine sulphate is a Class B drug.

Issued by HM Customs and Excise Communications Division