A ROYSTON man who was instrumental in bringing in more than 600 kilos of ketamine to the country has been jailed for over two decades.
Russell King, 63, of The Green, hid four bin bags full of the class B drug in compartments within a Fiat motorhome before crossing the North Sea by ferry from Rotterdam to Hull on August 24 last year.
When King arrived at his home address he was arrested by officers from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) whilst removing the drugs from the vehicle.
Officers recovered 100 kilos of ketamine, with an estimated street value of £2m, hidden inside the bin bags.
A further police investigation found that King had also helped import and supply 70 kilos of cannabis the month before.
Following King’s arrest, officers from YHROCU established that he had also been instrumental in the importation of 632 kilos of ketamine into the UK during July 2023, working from mainland Europe to oversee the movement of the drugs.
In partnership with Sussex Police, the wider organised crime gang was identified, arrested and charged.
Following a six-week trial at Lewes Crown Court, King was found guilty of importing the 70 kilos of cocaine.
Appearing before the court for sentencing on Tuesday, King was jailed for a total of 22 years - including six years for the motorhome offence and four years for the cannabis offence, running concurrently.
He admitted offences of 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.
Detective Superintendent Al Burns, of the YHROCU, 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 partner 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.”
* A video of the arrest can be found on the Barnsley Chronicle website.
