Gang of 17 are jailed for drug-running operation

Apr 5 2008 by Chloe Griffiths, Liverpool Daily Post

A MERSEYSIDE gang which ran a multi-million pound racket flooding Scotland with drugs have been jailed for a total of more than 100 years.

Every week for more than two years the 17-strong gang sent about £40,000 worth of drugs to Glasgow.

The racket was run by husband-and-wife team Christopher and Sharon Pimblett from their home in St Helens.

The couple, now divorced, would send couriers driving specially-adapted vans with heroin and cocaine hidden inside secret compartments to Scotland on a weekly basis.

Scottish drivers would then return to St Helens with plas-tic bags stuffed full of cash.

At a rate of £40,000 a week, over two years the pair would have made more than £4m.

Yesterday, Christopher Pimblett was jailed for 12 years after Judge Brian Lewis ruled he was the “controlling mind”.

He organised couriers and shipments and liaised with Glasgow-based Fergus Smith, controlling the Scottish end.

Smith was jailed for 10 years; Pimblett’s ex-wife, Sharon, received four years.

Judge Lewis said the for-mer pharmacy worker, who was tearful throughout the proceedings, had an “active” role in assisting her husband.

He jailed the 17-strong gang, who were convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A, B and C drugs from January 1, 2005 to April 17, 2007, for a total of 108 years and two months.

He said: “This was a large-scale, relatively sophisticated operation which was active for a period of over two years.

“Class A drugs are the greatest social problem of our time. In this crown court, day after day, the consequences of drug addiction are apparent.”

Judge Lewis said the scale of the racket was obvious from the seizures police had made – more than 10kg of cocaine, 50kg of cannabis, 12,000 ecstasy tables and more than £400,000.

When officers raided the homes of gang members, they found wads of cash, drums full of cutting agents and drug paraphernalia, including cocaine presses.

The gang were making so much cash, money-counting machines were even bought.

At Pimblett’s stepfather’s house, a total of £323,000 was recovered, while one driver told how he had exported more than £800,000 and £1.3m worth of cocaine in about 30 trips over six months.

In John Johnson’s home, a cache of weapons was found including a self-loading pistol with ammunition, a sawn-off shotgun, a loaded crossbow and an air rifle.

Expensive cars were shared between the gang and some members were planning to buy property abroad.

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