Three Men Sentenced for Using Religious Body to Smuggle £2m of Cannabis into UK

Breaking News: Three Men Sentenced for Drug Smuggling Operation

In a recent court ruling, three men have been sentenced for using a religious organization as a front to smuggle a staggering 400 kilograms of cannabis into the United Kingdom. Dalton Anderson, Alvin Russell, and Sinclair Tucker used tins of callaloo and ackee fruit to hide the drugs, which had an estimated street value of up to £2 million. The trio employed Birmingham-based Vision Christian Ministries (VCM) as a cover to ship the cannabis from Jamaica to Birmingham Airport, successfully evading suspicion until their arrest.

The Smuggling Operation Unveiled

The National Crime Agency (NCA) revealed that the cannabis was smuggled into the UK in three shipments between March and May 2017. All three shipments were addressed to the now-dissolved VCM, which added an air of legitimacy to the operation. However, their plan was foiled when Border Force intercepted all three shipments, leading to the subsequent arrest of the men on May 23, 2017, while inspecting the third consignment at Birmingham Airport.

Sentencing and Consequences

The three men faced trial at Birmingham Crown Court and were found guilty last November of fraudulently evading the prohibition on the importation of a controlled drug. The severity of their sentences was determined by the presiding judge, Martin Hurst. Dalton Anderson, the primary orchestrator of the operation, received a nine-year prison sentence. In addition, he was handed a concurrent five-year term for possession with intent to supply a class B drug after authorities discovered five kilos of cannabis at his residence in Groveland Road, Tipton, West Midlands.

Alvin Russell, an accomplice in the operation, was sentenced to five years in prison, while Sinclair Tucker was given a two-year suspended term. Tucker, though spared jail time, will be under close scrutiny for the next 18 months. These sentences serve as a strong message to criminals involved in drug trafficking that the UK authorities are committed to tackling and breaking these supply chains.

Exploiting a Religious Organization

The NCA's operations manager, Rick Mackenzie, expressed his disdain for the criminals' use of a religious organization to conceal their illicit activities. He emphasized the detrimental impact that the illegal drugs trade has on society, fueling violence and exploitation while generating substantial profits for those involved. Mackenzie highlighted the tireless efforts of the NCA, in collaboration with partners such as Border Force, to pursue traffickers and protect the UK public.

Paul Harper, from the Border Force Central Region, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the harm caused by drugs in our communities. He commended the work of Border Force officers at Birmingham Airport in intercepting the drugs and preventing their infiltration into society. The joint commitment of the Border Force and the NCA to dismantling these supply chains and holding criminals accountable is resolute.