Drug smuggler who ran £9.7m cocaine operation locked up

ENTERPRISE SMASHED AFTER SUSPICIOUS PARCELS SEIZED

- By MARK NAYLOR

A DRUGS boss ran a huge and highly lucrative cocaine smuggling operation from Hull that involved an estimated £9.7m in drugs brought in from the Netherlands - and his very own secret sophisticated processing centre.

Wayne Young had his own highly-organised and fully operational drug-processing centre at his home, with a hydraulic press to compress cocaine.

But his moneymaking scheme was smashed after four suspicious parcels from the Netherlands were intercepted at an airport and an investigation was started, Hull Crown Court heard.

Young, 35, of Sheldon Close, Bransholme, Hull, admitted conspiring with others to import cocaine into this country between February 1 and March 1, 2022, as well as possessing cocaine with intent to supply and possessing 324g of cannabis on March 1, 2022.

A jury had been sworn and a trial had begun before the court was told that Young had reconsidered his position during the prosecution case and wanted to change his pleas.

He was sentenced soon afterwards and was jailed for nine years.