Police praised after multi-million pound Shropshire drug operation smashed

Councillor Tim Beckett, mayor of Market Drayton, and Roger Hughes, who represents Market Drayton West on Shropshire Council, both spoke of their relief that police had been able to clamp down on the supply of cannabis being imported to the town from Holland. But they added they were alarmed that such a sophisticated operation had taken place in the area.

The three accused were all involved in a conspiracy to smuggle large quantities of cannabis from Holland into the UK hidden among fresh flowers.

At Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday Ashleigh Watkin, 38, David Thompson, 42, and Stuart Grant, 42, were all convicted of their role in the plot.

Watkin was also guilty of being involved in the supply of cannabis.

A fourth defendant, 37-year-old driver Gary Davies, was cleared of being involved in the conspiracy and the supply of cannabis. Thompson, of Laburnam Avenue, Cannock; Grant, of Deansfield Road, Bearwood; Davies, of Willow Close, Market Drayton; and Watkin, of Rowney Close, Loggerheads, near Market Drayton, had all denied the allegations.

Councillor Beckett said: "This is a good result but alarming that we had a large operation like that taking place on our doorstep.

"It was excellent work by the police and customs."

Councillor Hughes said: "Incidents like this are disturbing but they happen all over the place. I am pleased police have got a result in this case."

Judge Michael Chambers adjourned sentence for reports until next month when seven other men involved in the conspiracy are due to be sentenced.

At earlier hearings ringleaders Baan Klootwijk, a Dutch national, and David North, along with two other men, admitted conspiracy to import and to supply cannabis. Three other men pleaded guilty to supplying cannabis. During the trial the jury was told the cannabis smuggling plot was run from Baan Flower Trading on the Adderley Road Industrial Estate in Market Drayton between November, 2011 and February, 2013.

Dozens of cardboard boxes containing cannabis, hidden among cartons of fresh flowers, were ferried by lorry between Holland and Market Drayton and the estimated profit for the gang could have been at least £7 million.

Covert footage filmed outside a warehouse at Rijnsburg in Holland showed both Thompson and Grant arriving in refrigerated-lorries and boxes being loaded along with trolleys containing flowers.

The court heard that Watkin, an employee and office worker at Baan Flower Trading and drivers Grant and Thompson, were heard in recorded conversations talking to David North about the drugs.

The defendants were all arrested following a raid on a warehouse at the Adderley Road Industrial Estate.