A man who hoped to make a 'shed load of dough' importing five tonnes of cocaine has been jailed for 14 years for his part in the conspiracy.
Robert Rich, 40, of Burton Road, Barnsley visited Colombia to help organise the plot.
It ultimately failed and Rich, was one of four men sentenced on Friday. He and the others were being watched by the Serious Organised Crime Agency, which gathered evidence including coded conversations about the conspiracy which the gang referred to as a 'plastering job'.
They said they hoped to make a 'f***ing shed load of dough' by shipping the drugs into the UK.
The ringleader was Russell Knaggs, 38, of Doncaster. He orchestrated the scheme from his prison cell and was sentenced to 20 years at Birmingham Crown Court. Philip Hadley, of Doncaster was given 18 years and Anthony Perger, of Sheffield, who pleaded guilty was sentenced to five years six months.
Soca investigator Gerry Smyth said: “Knaggs believed he could continue business from behind bars but no-one should think they are beyond reach. Soca and its partners will use their expertise and determination to stamp down hard on organised criminals, regardless of where they operate."
Linked story: http://www.barnsley-chronicle.co.uk/news/article/4958/gang-member-convicted-over-plan-to-import-cocaine
