Trio jailed for importing 91 Million canisters of laughing gas
The men set up bogus companies, with names like Worldwide Coffee Traders and Barista Distribution
Three men have been jailed for running a network of fake catering firms to smuggle more than 91 million nitrous oxide canisters into the UK.
The haul - far greater than the 3.8 million used by Costa and Starbucks combined over the same period - was brought in between May 2016 and December 2018.
That's despite a new law making it illegal to import the gas if it was likely to be used as a psychoactive substance.
An investigation by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit uncovered how the men set up bogus companies, with names like Worldwide Coffee Traders and Barista Distribution, to disguise their illegal trade and launder up to £16.7 million, most of it cash.
Sentencing:
Brothers Benjamin and Thomas Richardson, both 38 and from Barlby in North Yorkshire, were each found guilty of conspiracy to import a psychoactive substance, money laundering and possessing criminal cash.
Benjamin was sentenced to six years and two months, while Thomas received five years and eight months at Leeds Crown Court.
Carl Messen, 58, from Doncaster, was convicted of conspiracy to import a psychoactive substance and money laundering, and was jailed for three years and two months.
"vast profits"
Speaking after sentencing, Ramona Senior, head of operations at the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, said the group “made vast profits from their activities and structured their businesses in a way that tried to conceal their activities and to launder their ill-gotten income,” adding that the sentences reflected the severity of their actions.
Police are now reminding people that nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is used legitimately in medicine and catering, but heavy abuse can cause serious health harms including neurological damage and even death.
Authorities say it has also fuelled anti-social behaviour in public spaces and contributed to drug-driving deaths.
Proceeds of crime proceedings are now under way to try to recover the money made through the scheme.