A man used the covid pandemic as a decoy to transport drugs and cash in his Skelmersdale-based rental vans.
Lloyd Ellison claimed his vans were being used to take vital goods around the country at a time when people were forced to stay inside due to a national lockdown. Ellison, 32, was in fact transporting huge amounts of cocaine and money.
Ellison, of Grape Lane, Croston, was jailed this week for 15 years for conspiracy to supply cocaine and three years for money laundering, with the sentences to run consecutively.
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His brother, Connor Ellison, 30, of Coniston Avenue, Euxton, was jailed for four years in May after admitting money laundering.
The pair were arrested and charged after an investigation from Lancashire Police into the conspiracy which involved up to 160kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of more than £10m.
Detective Constable Paul Gilfoyle said: “We welcome these significant sentences which reflect the gravity of the offending and come as a result of some exceptional work by officers and staff to disrupt this criminal network and take drugs off our streets. We will continue to take the fight to criminals in order to protect our communities and make our streets safer.
“As always, we cannot achieve any of this without the support of our communities and I ask if you have any information regarding individuals who are involved in criminality to please contact Lancashire Constabulary on 101 or independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
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