A group of criminals from the North East who oversaw the importation of large amounts of cocaine – including loads concealed in empty gas cannisters – have been sentenced to a total of more than 141 years’ imprisonment.

The National Crime Agency investigated the offenders, with assistance from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) and Northumbria Police on some of the cases.

A number of the criminals used the encrypted communications platform EncroChat to discuss their offending.

Details of the cases, which date back to the Covid 19 pandemic, can be released after reporting restrictions were lifted at Newcastle Crown Court when three of the men were sentenced.

Among them was Kevin Taylor, 43, from Newcastle upon Tyne, whose EncroChat handle was “loyalmover”. He was jailed for 27 years in relation to a plot to supply more than 200 kilos of cocaine with an estimated street value of £68.75 million, and his part in the importation of 172 kilos of cocaine hidden in the gas containers.

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Searches were carried out in 16 properties across counties Dublin, Meath, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly on Tuesday and Wednesday.

About 110kg of suspected cocaine and 1.5kg of suspected heroin – with a combined street value of €8.2m – was recovered from two vans and has been sent for further examination.

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Dans les années 1980, la Galice, au nord-ouest de l’Espagne, devient la porte d’entrée de la drogue en Europe. Une vague blanche déferle sur le littoral. Elle corrompt les hommes et impose aux familles la clandestinité. Témoin de cette histoire, le journaliste Nacho Carretero grandit au rythme des opérations spéciales, des livraisons de drogue et des arrestations. Il publie en 2015 Fariña – « la farine » en galicien, un terme pour désigner la cocaïne.

Disponible jusqu’au 16/02/2027

Las autoridades lograron sofocar las llamas y la Policía incautó gran cantidad de estupefaciente, precursores y elementos para su producción.

Hay once personas detenidas y unos 700 kilos de sustancias intervenidas.

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