Gang jailed for over 24 years after drugs lab found in Thirsk
Police found two men manufacturing amphetamines, with a street value estimated to be around £5 million
Four men have been jailed for more than 24 years for their part in manufacturing drugs estimated to have a street value of £5 million in Thirsk.
North Yorkshire Police carried out a raid on a rented house in the village in April 2020, where they found two men in the process of making amphetamine oil.
They also discovered a significant amount of hazardous chemicals, noxious vapours coming from the property, laboratory equipment and £20,000 in cash.
Police arrested Philip Lister, 41, and his brother-in-law Ryan Beer. 30, at the scene.
Officers discovered they were using a secret app to plan their operation.
An investigation led to them arrested two other suspects, Stephen Singleton from Merseyside, and Jordan Blackburn, from West Yorkshire.
One man was director of chemical company
Detectives later determined that Singleton, who was the director of a chemical company based in St. Helens, was leading the operation, alongside Blackburn, who ran a cleaning solutions company in West Yorkshire.
Lister was the 'chef' producing the drugs, with occasional help from Beer.
Police only found a small amount of amphetamine at the property, but believe the men had enough chemicals to make drugs with a street value of over £5 million.
The range of chemicals within the lab presented a risk to the defendants health, those living close by and the officers who had to dismantle the operation and make the area safe.
Group jailed for more than 24 years
Singleton, 36, of York Road, Birkdale, Sefton; Blackburn, 34, of York Road, Leeds; and Beer, 30, of Chandos Mews, Leeds, were all found guilty by jury of conspiracy to produce amphetamine at Teesside Crown Court in December 2022.
They were jailed on 13 January 2023 but due to an outstanding court case involving Singleton in another area, the case could not be reported until now.
Singleton was jailed for nine years and two months, Blackburn was jailed for eight years and nine months, and Beer was jailed for two years and four months.
Lister, 41, of Wykebeck Avenue, Osmandthorpe, Leeds was charged with conspiracy to produce amphetamine and money laundering. He pleaded guilty to both charges and was sentenced to four years and four months in prison. he was also sentenced on 13 January.
DC Neil Borchardt, from North Yorkshire Police, said: "This was a significant criminal enterprise that was disrupted thanks to the suspicions of local people who were concerned about the constant activity at the property and the smell of chemicals emanating from the building.
“The gang used a criminally encrypted communication platform at a significant financial cost believing that they could use it to run their criminal activities safely, they were wrong.
"Along with local residents, and working with the National Crime Agency, North Yorkshire Police Organised Crime Unit was able to disrupt and bring this criminal gang to justice.”