Northern Ireland

South East Asian crime gang jailed over £560k cannabis haul in Belfast

Herbal cannabis found by police during Operation Karhold. Picture by PSNI
Herbal cannabis found by police during Operation Karhold. Picture by PSNI Herbal cannabis found by police during Operation Karhold. Picture by PSNI

THREE members of a South East Asian organised crime group were jailed today after £560,000 worth of herbal cannabis was seized at a Belfast city centre apartment.

Police found the herbal cannabis as well as smaller quantities of other drugs, cash and equipment in October 2014.

The PSNI carried out 12 searches in Belfast, Carrickfergus and Portadown during the investigation, which was code-named Operation Karhold, and seven arrests were made.

Cars were seized and restraining orders also imposed on bank accounts during the operation.

Three gang members who admitted their roles in the operation which distributed drugs and laundered the proceeds from their sale were sentenced at Belfast Magistrates Court today.

Illegal immigrant Hui Lin (41) was jailed to five years after admitting possession of Class A drugs, possession of herbal cannabis with intent to supply and importing cannabis.

He was also sentenced to a total of three years, to run consecutively, for various money laundering offences.

Juan Guan (38) from Jerusalem Street, Belfast was sentenced to three years after he admitted possession of herbal cannabis with intent to supply.

Illegal immigrant Yu Li (32) was sentenced to three-and-a-half years after he admitted importing herbal cannabis and intending to supply it.

Two women were also sentenced last week for their roles.

Haixia Guo (31) from Sheffield was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years, after she admitted money laundering offences.

Student Ying Han Zhao (25) from London was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting three money laundering offences.

The officer leading the investigation, Detective Inspector Andy Dunlop said the jail terms were the culmination of a "lengthy and detailed investigation which began when we became aware of packages being sent from Spain".

"The evidence was such that the defendants admitted the offences," he said.

"Our investigation identified several bank accounts into which substantial amounts of money had been paid and then transferred.

"One account in the name of London student Ying Han Zhao had more than £66,000 lodged from Belfast in three months.

"Although this crime group based their activities in Belfast, their criminal reach spread to Great Britain and beyond.

"We believe we have taken down a major drugs supply network.

"The investigative reach by law enforcement has been extensive and effective."