Eighteen Convicted in UK's Largest Drug Conspiracy

Eighteen members of an organized crime group have been convicted in the United Kingdom's largest drugs investigation, which involved smuggling over £7 billion worth of illegal drugs, including heroin, cocaine, and cannabis, into the country from 2015 to 2018. The criminal network, led by 59-year-old Paul Green, utilized a sophisticated operation that included fake identities, encrypted communications, and the concealment of drugs within shipments of strong-smelling food items like onions and garlic. Two lengthy trials, one lasting 23 months, revealed that the group was responsible for at least 240 importations and managed to evade authorities for years. Six drug seizures with a total street value of £40 million were made, while investigators estimate the total amount smuggled could exceed £3 billion if half of the shipments contained similar quantities. The operation spanned from southeast England to Scotland, supplying various crime gangs across the UK. Among the convicted is Sohail Qureshi from Glasgow, who played a key role in linking UK and Dutch organized crime groups.