A POLICE watchdog has launched an investigation into whether a Customs officer helped two Liverpool drugs barons get a Royal Pardon.
John Haase, 59, and Paul Bennett, 44, planted illegal weapons hauls across Merseyside claiming some were linked to the IRA.
They then tipped off police and were granted a Royal Pardon and released just 11 months into 18-year prison sentences.
Yesterday, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said they were investigating if an officer from Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise (HMRC) may have assisted their scam.
The Customs officer is Paul Cook, who still works with the government body.
In a long court case last year in London, it was claimed that Haase had tried to bribe Mr Cook, who was his handler, but this was denied by Haase.
The IPCC said they were to examine exactly how information was passed to police about the secret gun stashes, and if any outside assistance was given.
In one sting, Haase and Bennett arranged to have a car stuffed with guns left outside the Cheers pub, in Aigburth Road, so they could blame it on the Ungi and Fitzgibbon families.
The probe is likely to take many months, possibly even years, as it covers a long period of time in the 1990s.
After Haase and Bennett were found guilty last year, they were jailed for a total of 42 years.
IPCC Commissioner Gary Garland said: “Any allegation that an officer may have assisted known criminals is extremely serious.
Haase and Bennett developed a scam to mitigate the prison sentences they received, but, thanks to a thorough investigation by the Metropolitan Police, this was uncovered.
“However, this investigation has highlighted concerns about the relationship between the HMRC officer and Haase and Bennett. Dealing covertly with criminals is always fraught with risk, but allegations that a law enforcement officer may have assisted criminals escape a prison sentence and misused his power have the potential to impact greatly on public confidence.
“It is therefore right and proper for the IPCC to conduct a thorough, independent investigation into this matter.”
When Haase and Bennett indicated their willingness to divulge information about supposed gun hauls, they were allocated a HMRC officer, Paul Cook.
Liverpool MP Peter Kilfoyle has called for a public inquiry into how the two Liverpool criminals outmanoeuvred top politicians.
