The drug traffickers were caught after police bugged the ringleader's fleet of luxury cars. Recep Yilmaz, 67, was caught boasting of his profits of up to £100,000 a week from the smuggling ring which shipped the class A drug in bulk from Europe.
A Hastings man was part of an international drug smuggling ring which planned to flood the streets of Britain with £7 million of heroin, the Old Bailey has heard.
Sean Harrison, 41, of Hilly Glen Close, who organised the heroin on the continent, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs earlier this month.
But police swooped after learning that a shipment of 69.1kg was on its way to Britain, organised by David Powell, 50. The lorry containing the heroin, worth a street value of around £7million, was driven by John Rae, 41. Police discovered the deal after bugging the Mercedes and Jaguar owned by car dealer Yilmaz, known as the 'Top Man,' who has pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy. Mert Goren, 27, who took possession of the heroin from Rae, has also admitted his part in the trafficking ring. Powell and Rae are now standing trial for importing heroin.
The Old Bailey heard how the charges date back to the summer of 2002 when Harrison and Rae were in Europe while Powell and Yilmaz remained in the UK awaiting the drugs. Prosecutor Victor Temple QC said:"Harrison travelled to the continent to take possession of the heroin. "Whilst still on the continent he met Rae who in any event was on a scheduled trip back to England. "Rae in his turn took possession of the heroin from Harrison, secreted it in his lorry, and brought it across the Channel and through customs."Harrison travelled back to England on his own. Once in England Rae handed over the heroin to Harrison and or Powell. "Rae's function was now complete and he drops out of the picture. Harrison and Powell still had much to do. One or other or both had received the heroin from Rae."What is beyond doubt is that they met and continued the enterprise.They drove in separate vehicles to a lay-by on the M26 near Wortham, Kent. "They had the heroin with them. it being anticipated they would meet Goren at the lay-by." The court heard how the main conspirators had been under police surveillance for months before the hand over. At 7.25pm on July 27, officers watched as three cars arrived near junction 2a on the M26 near Wrotham, Kent. Powell and Harrison were seen depositing two holdalls in the back of Goren's car. When police intervened they discovered the bags contained 101 parcels wrapped in brown tape containing 51.85kg of heroin.A third holdall was found in the front passenger seat contained a further 17.3kg
A Hastings man was part of an international drug smuggling ring which planned to flood the streets of Britain with £7 million of heroin, the Old Bailey has heard.
Sean Harrison, 41, of Hilly Glen Close, who organised the heroin on the continent, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs earlier this month.
But police swooped after learning that a shipment of 69.1kg was on its way to Britain, organised by David Powell, 50. The lorry containing the heroin, worth a street value of around £7million, was driven by John Rae, 41. Police discovered the deal after bugging the Mercedes and Jaguar owned by car dealer Yilmaz, known as the 'Top Man,' who has pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy. Mert Goren, 27, who took possession of the heroin from Rae, has also admitted his part in the trafficking ring. Powell and Rae are now standing trial for importing heroin.
The Old Bailey heard how the charges date back to the summer of 2002 when Harrison and Rae were in Europe while Powell and Yilmaz remained in the UK awaiting the drugs. Prosecutor Victor Temple QC said:"Harrison travelled to the continent to take possession of the heroin. "Whilst still on the continent he met Rae who in any event was on a scheduled trip back to England. "Rae in his turn took possession of the heroin from Harrison, secreted it in his lorry, and brought it across the Channel and through customs."Harrison travelled back to England on his own. Once in England Rae handed over the heroin to Harrison and or Powell. "Rae's function was now complete and he drops out of the picture. Harrison and Powell still had much to do. One or other or both had received the heroin from Rae."What is beyond doubt is that they met and continued the enterprise.They drove in separate vehicles to a lay-by on the M26 near Wortham, Kent. "They had the heroin with them. it being anticipated they would meet Goren at the lay-by." The court heard how the main conspirators had been under police surveillance for months before the hand over. At 7.25pm on July 27, officers watched as three cars arrived near junction 2a on the M26 near Wrotham, Kent. Powell and Harrison were seen depositing two holdalls in the back of Goren's car. When police intervened they discovered the bags contained 101 parcels wrapped in brown tape containing 51.85kg of heroin.A third holdall was found in the front passenger seat contained a further 17.3kg
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