Drug cutting ring members jailed
Three men convicted of being involved in a drugs ring which produced billions of pounds worth of cocaine have been jailed for between 11 and 18 years.
Jamie Dale, John Cawley and Barry Hartley were found guilty on three counts of conspiracy to supply after a two-month trial.
Dale was sentenced to 18 years, Cawley received 15 and Hartley was given 11 years at Leeds Crown Court.
The three imported more than 36 tonnes of cutting agent to add to cocaine.
They would then sell the powder to dealers for about £1,000 a barrel.
The court heard they would have netted £3.5bn.
Dale, 32, of Claymere Avenue, Rochdale, Greater Manchester; Cawley, 31, of Forshaw Close, Fleetwood, Lancashire and Hartley, 63, of Cog Lane, Burnley, Lancashire, were caught after an undercover operation by officers from the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) who marked stocks of cutting chemicals bought by the trio.