Bob Loblaw
Bluelight Crew
Two pensioners helped to flood Britain with millions of pounds of cannabis by disguising the drug as frozen chicken imports and storing it at a bonded meat warehouse in Bury St Edmunds, Southwark Crown Court has heard.
Haulier Derek Mercer, 70, of Sandown Road, south-east London, and John Rowe, also 70, of Mansford Street, east London, deny one count of "being knowingly concerned" in smuggling the class B contraband into Britain on or before March 16 this year.
Three other men - Patrick Maloney, 51, of south-east London, Russ O'Cuneff, 51, of east London and Wattie Soutter, 68, of south-east London - have admitted taking part in the operation.
Andrew Marshall, prosecuting, said the gang collected the pallets, moved them to a haulage company in Grays, Essex, and then "very quickly" distributed the drug to customers so "the evidence disappears".
Mr Marshall said police spent some time secretly tracking the gang's movements before raiding Mercer's haulage company nearly six months ago.
He said all five defendants were arrested at the scene although two other men - Anthony Fraser and Neil Mulligan - who were also allegedly involved "did a runner".
The barrister said a search of the premises uncovered 1.4 tonnes of cannabis in Mercer's warehouse "waiting for the customers". A further 882lb (400kg) was recovered from Soutter's van, while 132lb (60kg) of the more potent "skunk" form of the drug was allegedly found in Rowe's car.
Mr Marshall told jurors that, of the two on trial, only Mercer answered questions when interviewed, telling officers he had been approached three weeks earlier by someone he knew only as Tony for the use of his yard for a "loading and unloading" exercise.
He maintained that after being offered £500 for his trouble, he asked if there was anything "iffy" going on, but was assured everything was above board.
"I didn't really know it was drugs, I can tell you that," he said.
www.scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/l...arolds-39helped-flood-Britain-with.5611573.jp
Haulier Derek Mercer, 70, of Sandown Road, south-east London, and John Rowe, also 70, of Mansford Street, east London, deny one count of "being knowingly concerned" in smuggling the class B contraband into Britain on or before March 16 this year.
Three other men - Patrick Maloney, 51, of south-east London, Russ O'Cuneff, 51, of east London and Wattie Soutter, 68, of south-east London - have admitted taking part in the operation.
Andrew Marshall, prosecuting, said the gang collected the pallets, moved them to a haulage company in Grays, Essex, and then "very quickly" distributed the drug to customers so "the evidence disappears".
Mr Marshall said police spent some time secretly tracking the gang's movements before raiding Mercer's haulage company nearly six months ago.
He said all five defendants were arrested at the scene although two other men - Anthony Fraser and Neil Mulligan - who were also allegedly involved "did a runner".
The barrister said a search of the premises uncovered 1.4 tonnes of cannabis in Mercer's warehouse "waiting for the customers". A further 882lb (400kg) was recovered from Soutter's van, while 132lb (60kg) of the more potent "skunk" form of the drug was allegedly found in Rowe's car.
Mr Marshall told jurors that, of the two on trial, only Mercer answered questions when interviewed, telling officers he had been approached three weeks earlier by someone he knew only as Tony for the use of his yard for a "loading and unloading" exercise.
He maintained that after being offered £500 for his trouble, he asked if there was anything "iffy" going on, but was assured everything was above board.
"I didn't really know it was drugs, I can tell you that," he said.
www.scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/l...arolds-39helped-flood-Britain-with.5611573.jp
