Barnsley man who stashed ketamine in bin bags in his motorhome before catching ferry home jailed
Police discovered 100kg of the Class B drug during a raid on Russell King's home.
A Barnsley man who stashed around 100kg of ketamine inside four bin bags, which he hid in his motorhome before catching a ferry home, has been jailed for 22 years.
63 year old Russell King made the crossing from Rotterdam to Hull on August 24 last year.
When he arrived home he was arrested by organised crime police, who recovered more than £2m worth of the Class B drug which was hidden in compartments inside his Fiat motorhome.
He admitted possession with intent to supply ketamine and supplying cannabis, conspiracy to import cannabis and ketamine, and conspiracy to supply cannabis at an earlier court hearing at Lewes Crown Court.
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Superintendent Al Burns, of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, said:
“This operation dismantled a significant supply chain into the UK from Europe, and I’m proud of the tireless work our officers put in to protect the public."
"I would like to thank them as well as partners agencies, including Sussex Police and those overseas for their work to ensure justice was done.
"This arrest demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of UK law enforcement and that working together we will relentlessly pursue those that seek to benefit from international criminality.
“Putting King behind bars has not only disrupted an international trafficking route into the UK, but it’s also a stark reminder of the harm these substances cause in our communities.
“The growing use of ketamine as a recreational drug has been well-documented recently, but so have the serious dangers it poses to the health of individuals who take it.
"It’s wrongly perceived as a low-risk drug and has a significant impact on users.
“We remain committed to tackling the organised crime groups fuelling this trade and causing misery in our communities.”