A major police operation ensnared a sophisticated drug trafficking plot that smuggled dozens of kilos of cannabis between Merseyside and the Isle of Man using any means necessary.
The £1m operation smuggled the Class B drug between Merseyside and the Isle of Man in hidden compartments in cars, disguised as presents, in shipping crates, and even in pushchairs and suitcases. The Isle of Man Constabulary has recently conducted Operation Artemis, an operation that targeted organised crime groups (OCGs) in the UK and Isle of Man.
The operation resulted in the seizure of 54 kilos of cannabis with a street value of over £1m. Almost £250,000 in cash destined for OCGs in Merseyside was also seized, as were five cars used by the drug traffickers.
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The drug traffickers stored the drugs in a number of different places within the cars, including in the wheel hubs and underneath the loose change holder.
The operation's conclusion means never released details of the sophisticated trafficking operation can be released for the first time. Operation Artemis first came to its inception following a short visit to the Isle of Man from Merseyside resident Thomas Harrison at the start of February last year. Harrison and a female associate were stopped and spoken to by police prior to boarding a return ferry.
The two alleged they had travelled to the island with the car for a "short break" but had been forced to return home at short notice after their daughter had "gone missing from home". But enquiries found Harrison had made 12 short trips to the island in a period of five months prior.
Harrison returned to the island on February 23 where police stopped him boarding his return ferry. Over £47,000 was recovered from a hiding under his passenger seat. Harrison was charged with attempting to remove criminal property from the island, convicted and served an eight month sentence on the Isle of Man. He has since been released.
The seizure of money from Harrison's car set alarm bells ringing in the Isle of Man Constabulary and search operations at the sea terminal were stepped up. In the following months, police arrested a number of other UK residents at the sea terminal who were all found to be in possession of either dirty cash or drugs.
Sheila Starkey was stopped on March 22 last year where police uncovered over £92,000 in a hidden compartment. The following month, Kyle Badley was stopped and just over six kilos of the class B drug, worth nearly £128,000 was found in a hidden compartment in his car. It was later revealed Badley had made nine short journeys to the island, each time in a vehicle. And just the following day, on April 22 2022, Ian Broadbent's Audi A5 was stopped and two hides were found with just under four kilos of cannabis in total.
The police had to wait until June for their next breakthrough. On June 1, officers and a sniffer dog attended a haulage firm in Douglas on the Isle of Man. The dog found interest in a pallet destined for a John Houghton, who after enquiries turned out to be an employee at the facility.
The pallet contained a set of wheels and tyres which, stashed in between the hubs, was over 11 and a half kilos of cannabis worth just shy of £250,000. Houghton was arrested and admitted receiving just a grand for agreeing to accept the package. But he refused to name the others involved.
With police searching suspicious-looking cars at the sea terminal, the traffickers turned to new means to smuggle cash and cannabis in and out of the island. Merseyside resident Georgina Powell was stopped along with a female associate and their two young children on July 3 after triggering the attention of a police detection dog. Powell was found to be in possession of nearly £12,000, stashed in her pushchair.
Police on the Isle of Man continued to disrupt the criminal gang's enterprises, carrying out a number of raids on houses. They subsequently arrested and charged several men who were receiving kilos of cannabis in return for chunks of cash. The OCG behind the cannabis enterprise were also using at least one vulnerable person to receive the class B drug, who police have chosen not to name.
With the net closing in on the drug trafficking breakthrough, the Isle of Man Constabulary made another significant seizure. Police observed local resident Christopher Parker meeting with Greater Manchester man Bilal Moghul on September 3. Due to the shifty behaviour between the two, it was assumed a drug deal had taken place. And following a search of Parker's van, 13.5 kilos of cannabis were found.
Another search of his home address uncovered more as well as significant amounts of cash. In court, Parker said he had been paid £500 to hold the drugs on someone else's behalf so he could pay off a large vet bill.
The last arrest was Isle of Man native Garry Dentith. The local police said Dentith played a pivotal role as the OCG's main point of contact on the island. He first became a man of suspicion when his fingerprints were found on a carrier bag in Harrison's car many months ago. It later became clear he had communication with Harrison and at least four other members of the trafficking operation.
After he was seen leaning into the car of fellow drug pusher Andrew McGill, later found with tens of thousands of pounds in cash, a raid was carried out at Dentith's home. Police stormed his home on October 18 where they found a set of stairs leading to an attic room. A significant amount of cash was scattered across the attic - and Dentith was found in a secret bedroom.
Police found a number of sandwich bags annotated with handwritten markings that the investigating team said were similar to a number of other bags previously recovered from other members of the group. Dentith was subsequently charged and sent down for seven years and three months for money laundering to a value of over £180,000.
22 people were arrested in total during the police sting, leading to the criminal conviction of 14 people to a combined total of nearly forty years in prison. Police on the Isle of Man also believe the disruption of the supply of controlled drugs from the island has resulted in the dismantling of an OCG.
Thomas Harrison was arrested with £47,530 in criminal cash hidden in his vehicle. Sentenced to 8 months at the Isle of Man Prison. He has since been released.
Jamie Gelling was arrested after he was forensically linked to a carrier bag containing £11,730 of criminal cash. Sentenced to 9 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
Sheila Starkey was arrested with £92,610 in criminal cash hidden in her vehicle. Sentenced to 1 year and 5 months at the Isle of Man Prison and has since been transferred to a prison in the UK.
Kyle Badley was arrested with over 6 kilos of cannabis hidden in his vehicle. Sentenced to 3 years and 2 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
Ian Broadbent was arrested with 4 kilos of cannabis hidden in his vehicle. Sentenced to 3 years and 2 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
John Houghton was charged after being concerned in the importation of over 11 and a half kilos of cannabis to his place of work Sentenced to 3 years and 8 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
Stephen Whitakker was arrested following the delivery of 2 kilos of cannabis to his home address. Sentenced to 1 year and 2 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
Georgina Powell was arrested with £11,940 in criminal cash hidden in a pushchair. Sentenced to 6 months custody, suspended for 12 months. Returned to the UK.
Christopher Corkill was arrested following the delivery of 4 kilos of cannabis to his home address. Sentenced to 2 years and 10 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
Christopher Parker was arrested in possession of over 14 kilos of cannabis and £33,165 in criminal cash. Sentenced to 5 years at the Isle of Man Prison.
Bilal Moghal was arrested after producing over 13 kilos of cannabis to the Island. Sentenced to 4 years and 8 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
Sam Leigh was arrested after producing over 8.5 kilos of cannabis to the Island and attempting to remove £47,970 in criminal cash. Sentenced to 2 years and 5 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
Andrew McGill was arrested with 8.5 kilos of cannabis at his home address. Sentenced to 2 years and 8 months at the Isle of Man Prison.
Garry Dentith was arrested and charged with five counts of money laundering to a value of over £180,000, being concerned in the production of cannabis and, being concerned in the supply of cannabis. He was sentenced to 7 years and 3 months custody at the Isle of Man Prison.
The officer who led the investigation, Detective Inspector Jamie Tomlinson, said: "The successful outcome of the operation was a direct consequence of the dedication, skill and hard work of a small group of detectives. They confronted determined and well-resourced criminals and used a wide range of enforcement techniques to bring them to justice. I am proud of what we have achieved. Our efforts will continue and grow."
Chief Constable Gary Roberts QPM, said: "Organised criminal groups, based both here and in Merseyside, pose a real threat to our way of life. There is nothing romantic or beneficial to the community in the way that these ruthless groups go about their activity. They seek to exploit vulnerable people and they care nothing about the impact of what they do. This is just one operation of several that we have run in recent months, but its success shows our determination to keep this island safe."
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