Man jailed following biggest haul of ketamine in the UK

A Merseyside man has been jailed for more than five years after police found more than £17million worth of ketamine in the van he was driving.

Paul Farrelly, 46, of Redbank Close in Fazakerley, Liverpool, was stopped by police at around 4.30pm on 16 September 2025, on the East Lancashire Road in the Norris Green area of Merseyside.

He was driving a black VW Crafter van. The officers, from Merseyside Police’s Matrix Disruption Unit, spoke to Farrelly and noticed he seemed very nervous.

They began a search of him and the vehicle. In the back of the van, 22 sacks containing the Class B drug ketamine were discovered.

Also in the rear of the van was a pallet on which there were several kitchen worktops, secured by a ratchet.

When these were examined the following day, the worktops, were found to be hollow. Inside were found a further 13 sacks containing ketamine. The total street value of the 35 bags is estimated at £17million. This is thought to be the highest value of ketamine found in one location in the UK.

Farrelly was taken to Belle Vale custody suite and questioned but gave no comment in interview.

He was charged with possession of ketamine with intent to supply to another and pleaded guilty at the first hearing of the case at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on 16 September, 2025.

On 23 October, 2025, at Liverpool Crown Court, he was sentenced to five years and four months' imprisonment. 

Senior Crown Prosecutor Andrew Blennerhassett, of CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “This is a huge haul of a drug that has become increasingly popular in recent years.

“Its legal use is as an anaesthetic for animals, and it is used by vets. Its use in humans can lead to dependency, serious mental and physical health issues.

“The world of illegal drugs is a dangerous one. Paul Farrelly was heavily involved, although whether he was part of a wider chain of drug dealing is unclear.

“The Crown Prosecution Service would like to thank the Merseyside Organised Crime Partnership – a joint National Crime Agency and Merseyside Police team, who led the investigation in this case.

“Their work to disrupt and disable the world of drug dealers, along with the Crown Prosecution Service, is crucial in keeping our communities safe.”

DCI Tony Roberts of the Merseyside Organised Crime Partnership, said: “When officers pulled over Farrelly’s van, they made one of the largest seizures of ketamine ever in the UK. Thanks to the Merseyside Organised Crime Partnership, Farrelly’s drugs will never make it into the hands of vulnerable users.

“Many young drug abusers consider ketamine to be a cheap party drug but they’re paying a high price in terms of the sometimes life-long mental and physical damage the drug causes.

“Money-hungry organised criminals who exploit the demand for ketamine don’t care about the harm their drugs inflict, but Farrelly is now facing the consequences of his actions.

“We’re determined to keep ketamine off our streets and away from vulnerable people.”