Drugs gang smuggled £450m cocaine into UK in cheese blocks
Summarised from 4 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 30 Oct, 12:56 · Archive
An organised crime gang from West Yorkshire smuggled more than £450 million worth of cocaine into the UK by concealing it in blocks of cheese. The operation saw 4.5 tonnes of cocaine imported into the country over a four-month period between December 2022 and April 2023.
The investigation began after West Yorkshire Police seized cocaine and ecstasy worth £2 million following a stop and search of a car in the East End Park area of Leeds in January 2023. Officers then uncovered what they described as a 'sophisticated distribution network' supplying drugs across the north of England.
The gang imported 123,568 kilograms of cheese into the UK as commercial freight, transporting it through Dover to a legitimate distribution hub in Derby. From there, trucks collected the cheese and delivered it to units in Huddersfield, Cleckheaton, Halifax and Blackburn. Aiden McCullagh, 58, managed two of the hubs in Huddersfield and Cleckheaton. Saleem Chaudhri ran a unit in Blackburn, whilst Ikraam Safdar, 44, of Halifax, rented a unit at a car wash which was also used as part of the operation.
By late October, 15 of the 18-man gang had been sentenced. West Yorkshire Police described the operation as the biggest drugs investigation the force had carried out.
How it is being reported
- Moment officers discover 'bricks' of cocaine hidden by gang in cheeseOfficers revealed the gang in West Yorkshire Police's biggest ever drugs investigationHuddersfield Examiner · 30 Oct, 14:04
- Watch moment police discover tonnes of cocaine hidden inside wheels of cheeseSeven members of a drugs network which smuggled 4.5 tonnes of cocaine hidden in wheels of cheese have been jailed.Yorkshire Post · 30 Oct, 12:40
- Drugs gang smuggled £450m worth of cocaine hidden in wheels of cheeseThey were busted after a West Yorkshire Police operationYorkshire Evening Post · 30 Oct, 12:39
- Drugs gang smuggled millions of pounds of cocaine into country using cheese15 members of the gang have been sentenced so farHuddersfield Examiner · 30 Oct, 12:16
- Watch the moment police find huge amount of cocaine hidden inside wheels of cheeseMembers of a drugs gang have been jailed for smuggling cocaine inside wheels of cheese - with video of the huge discovery now released.Telegraph & Argus · 30 Oct, 12:10
In this story: West Yorkshire · West Yorkshire Police · Aiden McCullagh · Saleem Chaudhri · Ikraam Safdar · Leeds · Derby · Huddersfield
This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log
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