A criminal network that trafficked heroin, cocaine, and cannabis worth billions into the UK, hidden in shipments of onions and garlic, has been exposed as the country’s largest drug-smuggling operation.
The gang, led by 59-year-old Paul Green—nicknamed “The Big Fella”—faced justice after the UK’s longest-running criminal trial, with 11 members sentenced to a combined 200 years behind bars.
Smuggling Drugs Under the Cover of Vegetables
Using legitimate vegetable shipments imported from the Netherlands, the gang orchestrated an operation to smuggle an estimated £7 billion worth of drugs.
Despite their elaborate methods, their crimes were revealed through six major drug seizures between 2015 and 2018, valued at £40 million.
Investigators from the National Crime Agency (NCA) discovered at least 240 illicit shipments, concealed in pallets of onions and garlic.
Their excessive onion purchases even led to complaints about rotting vegetables piling up, prompting council inspections.
To maintain their cover, the group began returning the surplus produce to Europe for reuse in further shipments.
Elaborate Schemes and Ruthless Tactics
Green employed sophisticated methods to avoid detection, including cloning legitimate companies, identity theft, and issuing violent threats.
The gang used encrypted communication, faked documents, and even changed their names by deed poll.
They acquired defunct businesses to obscure their illegal activities and enlisted regional drug gangs to distribute the smuggled drugs across the UK.
In one instance, 17 pounds (8 kilograms) of cocaine worth nearly £1 million were hidden in ginger boxes.
The plan unraveled when a suspicious driver alerted authorities.
Another shipment of amphetamines valued at £1.1 million was foiled after Dutch police caught members of the gang off-guard.
Record-Breaking Trials and Harsh Sentences
The trials revealed the staggering scale of the operation. In 2018 alone, authorities seized 990 pounds (450 kilograms) of cocaine and heroin and two tons of cannabis linked to the gang.
The first trial, lasting 23 months, set a record in England and Wales, followed by a nine-month second trial.
A total of 18 gang members were convicted, with 11 receiving lengthy prison sentences.
Paul Green was sentenced to 32 years for his role as the ringleader.
His “right-hand man,” Steven Martin, received 28 years, while distributor Muhammad Ovais was jailed for 27 years.
Other key players, including Dutch operatives Johannes Vesters and Barbara Rijnbout, were also among those sentenced.
A Nation’s Communities Suffer the Fallout
Rob Jones, the NCA’s director general of operations, emphasized the devastating impact of the gang’s activities, which fueled addiction, violence, and misery across the UK.
“Without criminals like these, there would be no County Lines drug operations or innocent people caught in the crossfire of turf wars,” Jones stated.
He described Green and his accomplices as enablers of widespread suffering in communities.
What Lies Ahead?
The saga of this criminal empire has left a deep mark, highlighting the devastating social costs of drug trafficking.
With additional sentencing pending for six other members, the story is far from over.
This case stands as a chilling reminder of the lengths organized crime will go to for profit and the enduring impact on society.
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