Gang Sent 800,000 Of Cannabis From USA To Yorkshire Using Postal Services

Ten men were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday following an investigation by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU).

The men were involved in a conspiracy to send the class B drug in the mail, with some members of the gang flying out to California to oversee its export.

While there, they would purchase “high-grade” cannabis before posting it from US Post Office branches.

Some of the packages sent from the USA which were discovered at a Leeds address (Image: West Yorkshire Police) Some of the packages (Image: West Yorkshire Police) The packages were tracked using delivery apps, with members of the gang collecting the parcels from addresses in the UK.

Customs Declaration Forms were filled in, which claimed the parcels contained items such as clothing from a sportswear company.

Speaking after sentencing, Detective Superintendent Al Burns of YHROCU, said: “This was an organised and brazen attempt by a group of criminals to take advantage of legitimate postal and delivery companies to import illegal drugs to the UK”.

YHROCU officers were alerted to the plot and began investigating the gang’s activities.

Cannabis seized (Image: West Yorkshire Police) Officers estimate that more than 260 parcels were sent from America to the UK by the gang, with the total street value of the drugs believed to be in the region of £800,000.

The drugs were sold across the Yorkshire and the Humber region.

Eight of the men admitted conspiracy to import cannabis between November 1, 2017, and June 6, 2018.

These were:

• Karl Callaghan, 41, of Lupton Avenue, Harehills, Leeds – described as playing a leading role in the conspiracy- was sentenced to three years and 10 months.
• Dane Martin, 35, of HMP Nottingham – three years and seven months.
• Richard Sykes, 35, of Kingswear Glen, Austhorpe, Leeds – also admitted possession of cocaine and was sentenced to two years and five months. 
• Jon Paul Sharp, 36, of Ludlow Avenue, Garforth, Leeds – sentenced to two years and five months.
• Joseph Morton, 33, of Strawberry Avenue, Garforth, Leeds – also admitted possession of criminal cash, and was sentenced to one year and 11 months, suspended for two years, 250 hours of unpaid work and 30 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days.
• Callum Kitchen, 31, of Fenton Lane, Sherburn in Elmet – also admitted possession of cocaine and was sentenced to 18 months, suspended for two years, with 150 hours of unpaid work.
• Ryan Armitage, 34, of Maple Close, South Milford, Selby – 18 months, suspended for two years, with 150 hours of unpaid work.
• James Laycock, 38, of Oaks Road, Batley – sentenced to 21 months, suspended for two years, with 200 hours of unpaid work.

From top-left clockwise – Karl Callaghan, who was said to have played a leading role in the conspiracy, Dane Martin, Jon Paul Sharp and Richard Sykes (Image: West Yorkshire Police) Jordan Lilliu, 34, of Cawdell Way, South Milford, Selby and Daniel Kaye, 36, of Pondfields Close, Kippax, Leeds were found guilty of conspiracy to import cannabis between the same dates after a trial at Leeds Crown Court.

Lilliu was sentenced to a four-month night curfew and 20 RAR days, while Kaye received 300 hours of unpaid work.

DSI Burns said: “I’m grateful to our partner agencies both in the UK and the USA for their assistance in bringing these men to justice.

“The impact of drugs is linked to wider criminality, including violent crime. It has no place in our communities.”