Third St Helens man charged in connection with country's 'biggest ever drugs racket'

Ashley Jones, 29, of Cromdale Grove, Ashtons Green, has been remanded into custody and appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court today, after being charged with conspiracy to supply class A and class B drugs.

He was bailed today to appear at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday, November 7.

He is the 14th suspect to be charged in connection with the investigation.

Meanwhile, another man, aged 36, from Wigan, is in custody after being arrested on Thursday as he is questioned in connection with the conspiracy.

Some of the drugs found

Meanwhile, the 13 men charged with the importation of class A and B drugs, as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into the drugs plot, appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

On Tuesday, morning raids were carried out across the country leading to 19 arrests in connection with a National Crime Agency investigation into the importation of cocaine, heroin and cannabis worth billions of pounds.

The following men have been remanded to custody:

Paul Green, 54, of Eccleston, St Helens; Sohail Quereshi, 59, Wood Crescent, White City, London; Mohammed Ovais 41, of Bournlee Avenue, Burnage, Manchester; Khaleed Vazeer, 57, of Westwood Avenue, Timperley, Manchester; Steven Martin, 48, of Chorley Old Road, Bolton; Mark Peers, 55, of Norbeck Close, Warrington; Oliver Penter, 37, of Gladstone Street, Stockport

Drugs were found lorry loads of vegetables and juice

Meanwhile, released on bail are Andrew Reilly, 37, of Grange Park Road, St Helens; Paul Ruane, 54, of Bewsey Road, Warrington; Ghazanfar Mahmood, 48, of Green Lane, Bolton; Ifthikar Hussain, 46, of Upland Grove, Leeds, West Yorkshire; Vojtech Dano, 38, of Vulcan Gardens, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire; and Ivan Turtak, 34, of Vulcan Gardens, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, have been released on bail.

All suspects are next due to appear at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday, November 7.