Latest news with #ChristopherHeaney
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Scottish drugs mule flooded market with £7m of heroin in plot involving former cop
A Scottish drugs mule who flooded the UK with millions of pounds worth of heroin has been ordered to pay back just £42k. Christopher Heaney, from Anstruther in Fife, was jailed for nine years for his involvement in a cross-border heroin conspiracy as he and four others were busted by cops following the arrest of a former police officer in 2022. Ex-cop Steven Creasey was stopped while driving to Fife having already travelled from his home in Cardiff to Liverpool on the same day. A dog then sniffed out a professionally installed hide under the passenger seat, reports WalesOnline. READ MORE: Tragedy as West Lothian man dies in crash after air ambulance lands on busy road READ MORE: Iconic Edinburgh 'banana flats' bursts into flames as residents evacuated It contained a 5kg stash of heroin and one kilogram of adulterant. A burner phone also found in his possession revealed he had been operating as a professional courier engaged by the heads of a Liverpool-based gang. Fife-based Heaney was involved in the distribution of onward supply across the UK along with three others. Raids were then carried out at homes in Cardiff, Liverpool, Scotland and Northumberland towards the end of 2022. Significant items were found at the addresses, including expensive jewellery, heroin, cocaine, adulterants, opium, cannabis grows, and metal moulds for pressing powder into blocks. All five defendants pleaded guilty prior to trial at Cardiff Crown Court in February last year. The gang members were jailed for a combination of 57 years and 2 months. A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing was held at the same court earlier this week. It heard how despite profiting around £125,000 as part of the operation, Heaney was ordered to pay back a fraction of £42,000. Judge Lucy Crowther ordered him to pay the sum within three months. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. If he fails to do so, he will face an additional 18 months in jail. Speaking after sentencing, Detective Inspector Christopher McGlinchey of Police Scotland said: "This case underlines our collaborative efforts to dismantle organised crime networks that span regions. "The significant amount of drugs trafficked by this group had the potential to inflict serious harm on our communities. "The success of Operation Solon demonstrates strong partnership working between Police Scotland, Tarian ROCU and other partner agencies. It also reinforces our commitment to the UK's Serious and Organised Crime Strategy. "Organised crime has no place in our society and we will continue to work relentlessly to bring those responsible to justice."
Edinburgh Live
a day ago
- Edinburgh Live
Scottish drugs mule flooded market with £7m of heroin in plot involving former cop
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A Scottish drugs mule who flooded the UK with millions of pounds worth of heroin has been ordered to pay back just £42k. Christopher Heaney, from Anstruther in Fife, was jailed for nine years for his involvement in a cross-border heroin conspiracy as he and four others were busted by cops following the arrest of a former police officer in 2022. Ex-cop Steven Creasey was stopped while driving to Fife having already travelled from his home in Cardiff to Liverpool on the same day. A dog then sniffed out a professionally installed hide under the passenger seat, reports WalesOnline. It contained a 5kg stash of heroin and one kilogram of adulterant. A burner phone also found in his possession revealed he had been operating as a professional courier engaged by the heads of a Liverpool-based gang. Fife-based Heaney was involved in the distribution of onward supply across the UK along with three others. Raids were then carried out at homes in Cardiff, Liverpool, Scotland and Northumberland towards the end of 2022. Significant items were found at the addresses, including expensive jewellery, heroin, cocaine, adulterants, opium, cannabis grows, and metal moulds for pressing powder into blocks. All five defendants pleaded guilty prior to trial at Cardiff Crown Court in February last year. The gang members were jailed for a combination of 57 years and 2 months. A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing was held at the same court earlier this week. It heard how despite profiting around £125,000 as part of the operation, Heaney was ordered to pay back a fraction of £42,000. Judge Lucy Crowther ordered him to pay the sum within three months. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. If he fails to do so, he will face an additional 18 months in jail. Speaking after sentencing, Detective Inspector Christopher McGlinchey of Police Scotland said: "This case underlines our collaborative efforts to dismantle organised crime networks that span regions. "The significant amount of drugs trafficked by this group had the potential to inflict serious harm on our communities. "The success of Operation Solon demonstrates strong partnership working between Police Scotland, Tarian ROCU and other partner agencies. It also reinforces our commitment to the UK's Serious and Organised Crime Strategy. "Organised crime has no place in our society and we will continue to work relentlessly to bring those responsible to justice."
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Scots drugs mule involved in £7m heroin plot ordered to pay back £42,000 dirty cash
Christopher Heaney, from Anstruther in Fife, was jailed for nine years for his involvement in a £7m cross-border heroin conspiracy last year. A Scots drugs mule who flooded the UK with millions of pounds worth of heroin has been ordered to pay back just £42,000. Christopher Heaney, 48, from Anstruther in Fife, was jailed for nine years for his involvement in a £7m cross-border heroin conspiracy last year. Heaney, alongside four others, were busted by cops following the arrest of a former police officer in May 2022. Steven Creasey, an ex-police officer who had also worked for the Royal Navy, was stopped while driving his vehicle to Fife having already travelled from his home in Cardiff to Liverpool the same day. A drugs dog sniffed out a professionally installed hide under the passenger seat of his car, which was found to contain a 5kg stash of heroin and one kilogram of adulterant. A burner phone also found in his possession revealed that the former cop had been operating as a professional drugs courier engaged by the heads of a gang based in Liverpool. The police investigation, known as Operation Solon, led to the arrests of Christopher Brannan, 38, and Stephen Hopkins, 59, who collected wholesale amounts of heroin. The drugs were then distributed for onward supply across the UK by Heaney, Creasey, Kevin Thomson, 45, and Jeffrey Hickson, 61. Brannan would launder the profits through the bank account of his partner Kirsty Murphy, 36. Subsequent raids were carried out at homes in Cardiff, Liverpool, Scotland and Northumberland towards the end of 2022. Significant items were found at the addresses, including expensive jewellery, heroin, cocaine, adulterants, opium, cannabis grows, and metal moulds for pressing powder into blocks. All five defendants pleaded guilty prior to trial at Cardiff Crown Court in February last year. The gang members were jailed for a combination of 57 years and 2 months. A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing was held at the same court earlier this week. It heard how despite profiting around £125,000 as part of the operation, Heaney was ordered to pay back a fraction of £42,000 Judge Lucy Crowther ordered him to pay the sum within three months. If he fails to do so, he will face an additional 18 months in jail. Speaking after sentencing, Detective Inspector Christopher McGlinchey of Police Scotland said: "This case underlines our collaborative efforts to dismantle organised crime networks that span regions. "The significant amount of drugs trafficked by this group had the potential to inflict serious harm on our communities. "The success of Operation Solon demonstrates strong partnership working between Police Scotland, Tarian ROCU and other partner agencies. It also reinforces our commitment to the UK's Serious and Organised Crime Strategy. "Organised crime has no place in our society and we will continue to work relentlessly to bring those responsible to justice."
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Wales Online
Drug dealer who benefited by £125,000 ordered to pay back just £42,000
Drug dealer who benefited by £125,000 ordered to pay back just £42,000 Christopher Heaney, 48, was a member of an organised crime gang which was brought down by the arrest of Steven Creasey, 67, from Cardiff, who was stopped by police in Scotland Christopher Heaney of Cunzie Street, Anstruther, Fife was convicted of conspiracy to supply heroin. He was sentenced to nine years and five months in prison. (Image: Tarian ) A member of an organised crime gang which was exposed following the arrest of a former police officer has been ordered to pay £42,000 despite benefiting by £125,000. The gang was involved in a £7m heroin conspiracy. Christopher Heaney, 48, was a member of the group which was brought down by the arrest of Steven Creasey, 67, from Cardiff, who was stopped by police in Scotland on May 12, 2022. He had already driven from Cardiff to Liverpool that day before making his way up to Fife. A drugs dog discovered a professionally installed hide under the passenger seat of Creasey's car which was found to contain 5kg of heroin and one kilogram of adulterant. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter. A burner phone in Creasey's possession led to the discovery of other OCG members who were based in Liverpool. Tarian's subsequent investigation, named Operation Solon, found that Creasey was a Cardiff-based professional courier who had been engaged by the heads of an OCG based in Liverpool. Christopher Brannan, 38, and Stephen Hopkins, 59, collected wholesale amounts of heroin. Article continues below This would be distributed for onward supply across the UK by Heaney, Creasey, Kevin Thomson, 45, and Jeffrey Hickson, 61. Brannan would then launder the profits through the bank account of his partner Kirsty Murphy, 36. Raids were carried out at properties in Cardiff, Liverpool, Scotland and Northumberland towards the end of 2022. Significant items were found at the various addresses including expensive jewellery, heroin, cocaine, adulterants, opium, cannabis and metal moulds for pressing powder into blocks. Christopher Heaney, of Cunzie Street, Anstruther, Fife, was convicted on February 6, 2024, for conspiracy to supply heroin. He was sentenced to nine years and five months in prison. Steven Creasey of Allerton Street, Grangetown, Cardiff was convicted on March 17, 2023, for conspiracy to supply heroin. He was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison. A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard Heaney benefited to the tune of £125,876 as a result of his offending, but only has assets worth £42,229. Judge Lucy Crowther ordered the defendant to pay that sum within three months or serve an additional 18 months imprisonment in default. Article continues below
