Multi billion pound drug smuggling operation suspects named

Friday, 11 October 2019 10:25

Three West Yorkshire men have been named among 13 suspects arrested on suspicion of a mass drugs smuggling operation.

A National Crime Agency investigation resulted in the arrest of 13 men, and the seizure of approximately £38 million worth of drugs, thought to be part of an operation worth in excess of £1 billion.

The consignments seized contained large quantities of cocaine, heroin, cannabis and hashish.

Thirteen men, aged between 34 and 59, were apprehended during dawn raids on Tuesday across London, Manchester, Stockport, St Helens, Warrington, Bolton, Dewsbury, and Leeds.

Among the suspects apprehended were 46-year-old Ifthikar Hussain of Upland Grove, Leeds, 38-year-old Vojtech Dano, of Vulcan Gardens, Dewsbury and 34-year-old Ivan Turtak, also of Vulcan Gardens.

The remaining 10 suspects have been names as;

Paul Green (DoB 26/03/65), of Eccleston, St Helens;
Sohail Quereshi (DoB 08/07/60), Wood Crescent, White City, London;
Mohammed Ovais (DoB 18/01/78), of Bournlee Avenue, Burnage, Manchester;
Ghazanfar Mahmood (DoB 03/12/70), of Green Lane, Bolton;
Khaleed Vazeer (DoB 09/11/62), of Westwood Avenue, Timperley, Manchester;
Steven Martin (DoB 12/04/71), of Chorley Old Road, Bolton;
Andrew Reilly (DoB 24/11/81) of Grange Park Road, St Helens;
Mark Peers (DoB 07/02/64), of Norbeck Close, Warrington;
Paul Ruane (DoB 25/01/65), of Bewsey Rd, Warrington;
Oliver Penter (DoB 01/07/82), of Gladstone Street, Stockport.

Each of the 13 suspects were remanded in custody and were due to appear at Manchester Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Four men and two women, who were arrested in the Netherlands in April by the Dutch National Police in relation to the case are currently awaiting extradition to the UK.

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