{"id":236938,"date":"2023-09-26T16:09:08","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T16:09:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lovemainstream.com\/?p=236938"},"modified":"2023-09-26T16:09:08","modified_gmt":"2023-09-26T16:09:08","slug":"british-drug-smugglers-from-gang-led-into-greek-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lovemainstream.com\/world-news\/british-drug-smugglers-from-gang-led-into-greek-court\/","title":{"rendered":"British &apos;drug smugglers from gang&apos; led into Greek court"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Three British &#8216;drug smugglers from gang responsible for 10% of cocaine shipped into Europe&#8217; are led into Greek court for trial under heavy security &#8211; as global manhunt continues for leader dubbed &#8216;UK&#8217;s Pablo Escobar&#8217;<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>They appeared at a Thessaloniki court today after being held since June 2022<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Men were named as Neil Jones, Anthony Bennett, John Ellis, and Stephen Wray<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Four British men said to be part of a major organised crime group responsible for more than 10 per cent of cocaine shipped into Europe have gone on trial in Greece, MailOnline can exclusively reveal.<\/p>\n<p>The men \u2013 who can be named for the first time following the start of the case \u2013 were held in June 2022 after a dramatic raid by armed officers in scenes straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster.<\/p>\n<p>No other British media was in court for the proceedings which began after a lengthy year-long undercover operation involving officers from the US Drugs Enforcement Agency as well as Greek and Italian police.<\/p>\n<p>The four men \u2013 who were brought under heavy security from Thessaloniki jail where they have been on remand &#8211; were named in court as Neil Jones, 46, Anthony Bennett, 49, John Ellis, 39, and Stephen Wray, 52, and all are from Liverpool.<\/p>\n<p>A fifth man \u2013 Ryan Ellis \u2013 also from Liverpool, is charged along with them, with drug trafficking and is currently in jail in Holland where Dutch authorities have refused to hand him over because of &#8216;conditions in Greek jails&#8217;, it emerged.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/26\/16\/75851981-12562463-image-a-25_1695740419869.jpg\" height=\"951\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The three men who did appear were led handcuffed from a prison van \u2013 which had arrived with an armed police escort &#8211; into the building, and taken to the third-floor court room where proceedings lasted all day (pictured: two of the alleged drug smugglers)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/26\/16\/75851977-12562463-image-m-27_1695740458905.jpg\" height=\"765\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The four men \u2013 who were brought under heavy security from Thessaloniki jail where they have been on remand &#8211; were named in court as Neil Jones , 46, Anthony Bennett, 49, John Ellis, 39, and Stephen Wray (who was not present in court today), 52, and all are from Liverpool (pictured: one of the alleged drug smugglers)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/26\/16\/59101067-12562463-The_suspects_from_London_and_Liverpool_aged_38_45_48_and_52_alle-a-38_1695741134319.jpg\" height=\"476\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The suspects allegedly smuggled the huge \u00a312million haul (pictured) in a banana shipment from Colombia\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In a dramatic development prosecutor Alexandra Xoleva explained Wray had been rushed to hospital just hours before the start of the trial suffering from severe abdominal pains and was not expected to be discharged for several days.<\/p>\n<p>The three men who did appear were led handcuffed from a prison van \u2013 which had arrived with an armed police escort &#8211; into the building, and taken to the third-floor courtroom where proceedings lasted all day.<\/p>\n<h3>READ MORE:\u00a0Global manhunt for &#8216;British Escobar&#8217; who &#8216;trades 10% of cocaine worldwide&#8217; after armed Greek cops arrest four UK &#8216;drug smugglers&#8217; at luxury villa and seize \u00a312m of narcotics hidden in banana shipment<\/h3>\n<p>Greek authorities say the arrest of the four men sparked a global manhunt for the ringleader of the gang, who has been dubbed a &#8216;British Pablo Escobar&#8217; as he is the link between the Colombian cartels and a vast European network of traffickers.<\/p>\n<p>Footage released in June last year showed heavily armed officers raiding a luxury \u00a31,700 a month villa 20 miles from Thessaloniki and which was being used as a base for the men.<\/p>\n<p>They were held after 297kg of cocaine was found in a consignment of bananas that had arrived in the Greek port city last summer said to be worth \u00a342 million.<\/p>\n<p>During the operation one of the British men tried to overpower a Greek office and snatch his gun but was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed.<\/p>\n<p>Police said along with the drugs, which had been divided into 260 packages, a pistol loaded with nine rounds, a box of 41 cartridges, 1,000 Euros in cash, 11 mobile phones and portable radios were also seized in the bust.<\/p>\n<p>Following the raid Greek police said two of those arrested are &#8216;leaders of an international drug trafficking ring&#8217; while a fifth person was wanted in connection with the seizure.<\/p>\n<p>Officials said the men were linked to another consignment \u2013 just under 700kg- which was again found in a cargo of bananas that had come from South America via the Italian port of Gioia Tauro.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/26\/16\/75851967-12562463-image-a-30_1695740545264.jpg\" height=\"354\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The four suspects were arrested at the \u00a31,700-a-month rental property (pictured) where one of them allegedly tried to snatch an officer&#8217;s gun<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/26\/16\/75851983-12562463-image-a-29_1695740543247.jpg\" height=\"321\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The British men were held after 297kg of cocaine (like the packages pictured above) was found in a consignment of bananas that had arrived in the Greek port city last summer said to be worth \u00a342 million<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/26\/16\/75851957-12562463-image-a-31_1695740549964.jpg\" height=\"355\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Police said along with the drugs, which had been divided into 260 packages, a pistol loaded with nine rounds, a box of 41 cartridges, 1,000 Euros in cash, 11 mobile phones and portable radios were also seized in the bust<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/26\/16\/75851979-12562463-image-a-35_1695740587121.jpg\" height=\"415\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Investigators believe the British men (two of which are pictured here) are working in tandem with the Calabrian mafia in southern Italy, known as the &#8216;Ndrangheta and who have long established links with the South American cartels<\/p>\n<p>Investigators believe the British are working in tandem with the Calabrian mafia in southern Italy, known as the &#8216;Ndrangheta and who have long established links with the South American cartels.<\/p>\n<p>It can also be disclosed one of the men on trial is wanted in connection with the brutal murder of Tomasz Samel, who was kidnapped in the West Midlands and set on fire, dying in hospital from horrific injuries three months after he was attacked.<\/p>\n<p>The man, cannot be named for legal reasons, but his involvement was confirmed by West Midlands police last summer who revealed he was one of the men arrested in Thessaloniki.<\/p>\n<p>Tomasz, 44, was snatched from his home at Handsworth in March 2019, handcuffed and bundled into the back of a Peugeot Boxer van before being driven 100 miles to Bickerstaffe, Lancashire.<\/p>\n<p>He was seen knocking on doors and pleading for help, with 75 per cent of his body burned and West Midlands police believe he was torture before having petrol poured over him and set alight.<\/p>\n<p>Despite a three-month fight for survival, he later died in Liverpool hospital and police have been looking for his killers ever since.<\/p>\n<p>At the time of the arrests in June 2022 Greek media said a missing 41-year-old British suspect who was also being hunted was &#8216;one of the biggest players in international cocaine trafficking&#8217; and a major target of the DEA.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/26\/16\/75855073-12562463-image-a-57_1695742893876.jpg\" height=\"824\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>It can also be disclosed one of the men on trial is wanted in connection with the brutal murder of Tomasz Samel (pictured), who was kidnapped in the West Midlands and set on fire, dying in hospital from horrific injuries three months after he was attacked<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/26\/16\/75851959-12562463-image-a-36_1695740594176.jpg\" height=\"845\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Officials said the men were linked to another consignment \u2013 just under 700kg- which was again found in a cargo of bananas (like above) that had come from South America via the Italian port of Gioia Tauro<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/26\/16\/59100677-12562463-Footage_shows_armed_police_arriving_on_the_property_where_one_of-a-42_1695741543579.jpg\" height=\"358\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Footage shows armed police arriving on the property where one of the suspects tried to grapple a gun<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/26\/16\/75851963-12562463-image-m-40_1695741428550.jpg\" height=\"566\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The drugs were smuggled in boxes of bananas shipped in containers (pictured above) into Europe<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/26\/16\/59101757-12562463-Four_Britons_have_been_arrested_in_a_raid_on_a_luxury_Greek_vill-a-41_1695741529672.jpg\" height=\"381\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Four Britons were arrested in a raid on a luxury Greek villa after police seized 660lbs of cocaine in a major drugs bust (pictured outside court)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/26\/16\/75851989-12562463-image-a-34_1695740572834.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>No other British media was in court for the proceedings which began after a lengthy year-long undercover operation involving officers from the US Drugs Enforcement Agency as well as Greek and Italian police<\/p>\n<p>The reports said he may be personally in control of around 10% of the world&#8217;s cocaine trade but it is not clear if this man is the same person being held in Holland as officials refused to disclose any details.<\/p>\n<p>Defence sources say the men \u2013 who did not enter a plea \u2013 were victims of &#8216;police entrapment&#8217; and have said their clients&#8217; human rights have been abused while in custody awaiting trial.<\/p>\n<p>An Italian police source told MailOnline:&#8217;In total last year five tonnes of cocaine was seized on the route Ecuador, Gioia Tauro (Italy), Thessaloniki and we believe these men are part of the much wider operation.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;The cocaine was intended for markets in Europe and Australia and the investigation is continuing and involves officers from the DEA, as well as Italian and Greek police.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>The case has been adjourned until next month.<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-12562463\/Three-British-drug-smugglers-gang-responsible-10-cocaine-shipped-Europe-led-Greek-court-trial-heavy-security-global-manhunt-continues-leader-dubbed-UKs-Pablo-Escobar.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Three British &#8216;drug smugglers from gang responsible for 10% of cocaine shipped into Europe&#8217; are led into Greek court for trial under heavy security &#8211; as global manhunt continues for&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":236937,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>British &amp;apos;drug smugglers from gang&amp;apos; led into Greek court - lovemainstream.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/lovemainstream.com\/world-news\/british-drug-smugglers-from-gang-led-into-greek-court\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"British &amp;apos;drug smugglers from gang&amp;apos; 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