Gang jailed over huge haul of drug-cutting agent
FOUR men have been jailed after a colossal amount of heroin ‘bash’ was found at an industrial unit.
Some 375 kilos of adulterant, which drugs would have been cut with, is the country’s biggest-ever haul.
The discovery was initially made by firefighters after they were called to a blaze at the trading estate, off Worthington Way, in Wigan, in October 2017.
When police were called to the unit, they uncovered vast amounts of paracetamol, caffeine and bottles of food colouring, which they believe the Class A drug would have been cut with. Cutting agents are often referred to as ‘bash’.
Large white bags of powder were also seized.
Police have released pictures of the unit and what was found inside, as well as a dramatic image of armed officers ready to strike.
Four men have now been jailed for their part in the conspiracy to manufacture and supply class A drugs across the north west at Bolton Crown Court.
Marc Talbot, 47, of Kilburn
Avenue, Ashton in Makerfield, Wigan, was sentenced to 10 years for conspiring to supply Class A (heroin).
Paul Witter, 41, of Trinity Gardens, Wigan, was sentenced to 12 years for conspiring to supply Class A (heroin).
Richard McDonough, 52, of Croft Close, Birkenhead, Merseyside, was sentenced to nine years for conspiring to supply Class A (heroin).
Joseph Manley, 53, of Landseer Road, Liverpool, was sentenced to nine years for conspiring to supply Class A (heroin).
While police were at the unit, on October 26, Talbot pulled up in a dark grey Porsche.
He told officers he worked there for a man called Paul Witter, who was on holiday in Tenerife.
Officers secured the unit as a crime scene pending further investigation into the cause of the fire.
During a search of the site, DNA and fingerprints belonging to Witter, McDonough, Talbot and Manley were found.
Surveillance also revealed the four men had been in contact with each other in the hours immediately prior to, during and following the fire.
An investigation was launched, which led to warrants being executed in July 2018.
Paracetamol, caffeine, and a large amount of brown powder totalling approximately 86 kilograms, along with blender bottles, fabric gloves and other manufacturing equipment, were among the items found in Joseph Manley’s detached garage and within the house.
Witter, McDonough, Manley, Talbot, were all arrested on the same day on suspicion of conspiring to manufacture and supply class A drugs. All four were later charged with conspiracy to supply heroin.
All defendants pleaded not guilty, with Manley and McDonough claiming they were told they were preparing a ‘sports drink’ for an unnamed person.
Meanwhile, Witter and Talbot claimed McDonough had provided them with a false story, telling them he was using their unit to run a ‘bio fuel’ business. Detective Sergeant Simon Monks, of Wigan District’s Challenger Team, said: “These men thought they were above the law, and some of them lived a lifestyle that they funded through manufacturing and supplying a shocking amount of class A drugs.
“These are amounts of heroin adulterant, which we have never seen the likes of before within any seizures previously in the UK.
“I hope the sentencing serves as an example to those tempted by crime that we will pursue them.”