A grinning drug importer posed for a selfie beside stacks of banknotes after helping to smuggle 91 million canisters of nitrous oxide into the UK through a web of bogus catering companies.
Benjamin Richardson, 38, from North Yorkshire, was part of a criminal gang that imported the so-called ‘hippy crack’ despite a nationwide ban – raking in more than £16 million in the process.
He and his accomplices, including his twin brother Thomas Richardson and associate Carl Messen, were jailed yesterday for their part in the elaborate operation, which saw them hide behind fake companies with names like Worldwide Coffee Traders Ltd and Barista Distribution Ltd.
The group’s 12-week trial at Leeds Crown Court heard how they imported more than 91 million canisters of the gas – a staggering figure when compared to the 3.8 million used legitimately by major chains Costa and Starbucks during the same period.
Nitrous oxide is commonly used in medicine and catering, but in 2016 a law was introduced banning its sale or import if it was likely to be used for its psychoactive effects.
Despite this, the gang continued to flood the streets with the substance between May 2016 and December 2018.
Investigators from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) uncovered the scale of the illegal trade as well as a cash trail totalling £16.7 million, with over £12 million of it deposited in cash.
Benjamin Richardson, 38, from North Yorkshire, was part of a criminal gang that imported the so-called ‘hippy crack’ despite a nationwide ban
The group’s 12-week trial at Leeds Crown Court heard how they imported more than 91 million canisters of the gas
Benjamin (left) and his accomplices, including his twin brother Thomas Richardson (right) and associate Carl Messen, were yesterday jailed for their part in the elaborate operation
The group set up shell companies to pose as catering suppliers, including Catering Pantry International Ltd and Caterlink International Ltd, but officers found all their activity revolved around nitrous oxide.
Benjamin Richardson, of Barlby, North Yorkshire, was found guilty of conspiracy to import a psychoactive substance, money laundering, and possessing criminal cash. He was jailed for six years and two months.
His brother Thomas Richardson, also of Barlby, received five years and eight months after being convicted of the same charges.
Their co-conspirator Carl Messen, 58, of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was convicted of conspiracy to import a psychoactive substance and money laundering. He was jailed for three years and two months.
Ramona Senior, head of operations at YHROCU, said after the sentencing: ‘This was an organised enterprise whose sole purpose was importing a psychoactive substance into the UK to be used illegally.
‘Despite it being made illegal, this group continued to trade in nitrous oxide while fully knowing its ultimate use was to be sold as a drug.
Their co-conspirator Carl Messen, 58, of South Farm Drive, Skellow, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was convicted of conspiracy to import a psychoactive substance and money laundering. He was jailed for three years and two months
Investigators from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) uncovered the scale of the illegal trade as well as a cash trail totalling £16.7 million
Nitrous oxide is commonly used in medicine and catering, but in 2016 a law was introduced banning its sale or import if it was likely to be used for its psychoactive effects
‘They 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.
‘Our dedicated team of investigators at the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit successfully demonstrate to the court that this was an unlawful enterprise making millions while fuelling harm and misery in our communities and further afield. I’m pleased that the sentences reflect the severity of their actions.’
She added that proceedings to recover the proceeds of crime remain ongoing.
