‘Trusted’ cocaine courier jailed for £68m drugs plot

A COCAINE courier trusted to transport 100 kilos of the drug in a £68m plot has been jailed - meaning the gang have now been given prison sentences of more than 150 years.

- By ROB KENNEDY Court reporter

The conspiracy, which involved 172 kilos of high-purity cocaine being delivered to wholesalers in the North East, was run by Kevin Taylor and others, who were jailed previously.

Trusted courier Craig Martin, one of those caught after encrypted messaging system EncroChat was infiltrated, has now joined them behind bars.

Newcastle Crown Court heard cocaine was transported the length of the country to the region in 12 gas bottles, each containing between 12 and 16 kilos, and was then passed on to buyers.

Martin 47, of Dorcas Avenue, Benwell, Newcastle, was responsible for transporting 100 kilos of the drugs.