A former Liverpool boxing coach who spent seven years on the run has been jailed for drug offences.
Mark Quinn, 58, who has been wanted by police since 2014, was arrested last year in Maastricht during a joint operation involving the National Crime Agency, (NCA) Scottish police and local officers. Quinn, who worked with some of the biggest names in British boxing in the past, was named by police as a suspect in a Scottish based drug conspiracy in 2014.
Quinn, formerly of Craven Lea, West Derby, but who also has links to Stockbridge Village and Croxteth Park, admitted being concerned in the supply of amphetamine between August 21, 2013, and April 24, 2014 during a hearing in July.
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Earlier today Quinn was sentenced to seven years prison during a hearing at Glasgow High Court. Speaking after the sentencing senior lawyer Laura Buchan linked Quinn to an organised crime network involved in international drug trafficking.
Ms Buchan, Procurator Fiscal for Specialist Casework, said: “Mark Quinn played a significant role in an organised criminal network involved in the international supply and trafficking of drugs.
“This case demonstrates the ability of prosecutors in Scotland to conduct investigations that stretch across legal jurisdictions and continents, to target highly experienced organised crime groups, and to bring to justice individuals involved in sophisticated drug operations.
“We will continue to work closely with Police Scotland and the NCA to ensure that we disrupt their networks and bring them to justice wherever they are found.”
In July the court heard how during a search at Alder Grange Nursing Home in Eaton Road, West Derby, police discovered it was being used to prepare and bulk out the Class B drugs for onward supply.
Advocate depute, David McLean, said specialist drugs officers noted that an organised crime gang was not only adulterating amphetamine at the premises but also producing amphetamine sulphate from amphetamine oil.
Quinn later drove a van into the grounds of Alder Grange nursing home, where he was seen loading items into the rear of the vehicle. The van was later stopped northbound on the M74 and taken to Motherwell police station, where it was found to be transporting 100kg of amphetamine worth £2.4m on the streets.
Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Houston, Police Scotland’s Head of Organised Crime, said: “Quinn was part of a group intent on shipping amphetamine to Scotland for personal gain. However, disrupting the activities of those involved in organised criminality and working in partnership to make Scotland a hostile environment for them to operate is a priority for Police Scotland. This underlines our commitment to achieving Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy.
“He then attempted to evade justice and the consequences of his criminal actions by fleeing the country. However, our officers and our partners were determined to track him down and extradite him back to Scotland to ensure he was brought before the courts to be prosecuted for his crimes, no matter how long has passed.
“I am grateful for the assistance of our law enforcements partners in this country and abroad who worked with us to secure his arrest.”
NCA Branch Commander Ian Thomas said: “Mark Quinn organised for millions of pounds worth of amphetamine to be sent to Scotland for sale on the streets. These drugs have a corrosive impact on our communities, causing deaths and harm.
“Quinn tried to hide from the consequences of his crimes for years, but with our partners at Police Scotland and the Dutch police, the NCA helped to track Quinn down in the Netherlands where he was arrested.
“His capture should serve as a warning to other fugitives on the NCA’s Most Wanted list – the NCA has international reach and even if you leave the UK we can still get to you. We are relentless and we will not stop in our work to track you down.
“For further details of those who remain outstanding visit www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/most-wanted.”
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