Drugs gang jailed for Shropshire flower business smuggling plot

Seven other members of the gang who were involved in importing or supply of drugs across the UK have also been given immediate prison sentences.

The large scale enterprise distributed drugs to dealers across the country, including Manchester, London, Liverpool and the south of England and had a potential street value estimated at £200 million.

The premises of Baan Flower Trading in Market Drayton was a front for the drugs plot and was uncovered by a West Mercia Police inquiry, codenamed Operation Omaha.

Dozens of cardboard boxes containing hundreds of kilos of cannabis were ferried by lorry from Holland hidden among cartons of fresh flowers.

At Birmingham Crown Court yesterday Judge Michael Chambers said the defendants had been involved in a highly organised commercial operation importing and distributing "truly colossal amounts of cannabis" under the guise of the flower business.

He said it was sophisticated and professional and the defendants had been motivated by greed and all went into the enterprise with their "eyes wide open" knowing the consequences of discovery.

Baan Klootwijk, 49, a Dutch national, and David North, 50, a former soldier, who ran Baan Flower Trading on the Adderley Road Industrial Estate, were the organisers.

Klootwijk, of London Road, Nantwich, who had sourced the drugs through contacts in Holland was jailed for eight years.

North, of Blore Road, Hales, near Market Drayton, who was in a wheelchair in the dock having suffered a stroke, was given seven years.

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Both men had pleaded guilty to conspiring to smuggle drugs into the UK and being involved in the supply of cannabis between November 2011 and February last year.

Following a trial Ashleigh Watkin, 38, described as North's 'trusted lieutenant' and David Thompson, 42, and Stuart Grant, 42, were all convicted for their part in the conspiracy. Watkin, of Rowney Close, Loggerheads, near Market Drayton, who was also found guilty of conspiring to supply cannabis, was jailed for four years.

Thompson, of Laburnam Avenue, Cannock, Grant, of Deansfield Road, Bearwood, were both was jailed for five years.

Jamie Grant, 26, of Sovereign Lane, Ashley, near Market Drayton, was jailed for 32 months. He had admitted conspiracy to import drugs and to supply cannabis. Barrie North, 71, of Audlem Road, Woore, near Loggerheads was sentenced to two years for conspiracy to supply drugs.

Dealer 33-year-old Mark Ballinger, of Farnborough in Hampshire, who had admitted being involved in the conspiracy to supply cannabis, was jailed for 40 months.

Craig Little, 31, of Duffield Road, Middleton, Manchester, who acted as a courier and had admitted conspiring to supply cannabis, was given 12 months.

At court yesterday David Berry, 42, of Redland Road, Bowker Vale, Manchester, applied to vacate his guilty plea to being part of the smuggling conspiracy. He has also admitted being involved in the supply of cannabis. His case was adjourned until August 5.

Ms Raj Punia, prosecuting, applied for confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime against all the defendants which will be heard early next year.