Crime Group Ringleader Pleads Guilty To Drugs And Firearms Charges

10/12/2012

One of the masterminds behind a massive operation to import drugs and firearms to the North West pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court today. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison.

Dion Lee is the 28th defendant to be convicted in connection with the conspiracy, having been arrested in Nigeria and extradited back to the UK in May to face charges of conspiracy to supply class A and class C drugs and conspiracy to transfer firearms and ammunition.  27 other defendants have already been convicted of a range of drugs, firearms and money laundering charges following a series of trials at Liverpool Crown Court in 2010 and 2011.  They were sentenced to over 350 years in prison in total. 

From Autumn 2006 to Spring 2008 the defendants were part of an organised crime group that imported drugs, firearms and ammunition from mainland Europe and South America into England and Scotland for supply in towns across the UK including in the North West.  The gang smuggled firearms and large quantities of cocaine in hidden compartments in vehicles, and some of the defendants acted as human couriers or drugs 'mules' to bring cocaine into the country.

Dion Lee, who is originally from Lancaster, was one of the senior figures in the conspiracy and organised shipments of drugs and firearms mainly through the vehicle smuggling route from his base in the Netherlands.  He fled to Nigeria in an attempt to evade capture after a European Arrest Warrant was issued for his arrest.

Joanne Cunliffe, CPS Crown Advocate, North West Complex Casework Unit said:

"Dion Lee was one of the main organisers of this large drugs operation.  He went to great lengths to evade capture and probably thought he wouldnt be found in Nigeria, but Lancashire police have remained determined to track him down and the CPS has been determined to bring him before a court to face these charges. 

"His guilty plea to all the charges today is the final piece in the complex jigsaw of this case.  To convict 28 people for their part in this organised crime is a measure of how committed we and the police are to cracking down on those who try to profit from smuggling drugs and firearms onto the streets of our towns and cities."