Latest news with #MichaelKeating
Iraqi News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Al-Araji and European Institute delegation discuss results of Gulf regional dialogue
Baghdad - INA National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji discussed the results of the informal Gulf regional dialogue with a delegation from the European Institute of Peace on Wednesday. The National Security Advisor's media office said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji received a delegation from the European Institute of Peace, headed by the Institute's Executive Director, Michael Keating, and his accompanying delegation." The statement added that "Al-Araji reviewed with the European Institute delegation the Institute's findings in the (informal) Gulf Regional Dialogue Initiative, in the areas of environmental cooperation, academic exchange, stability and peace in the region, and maritime security among the countries involved in this initiative (the six Gulf states, Iraq, and Iran), in addition to the possibility of holding a conference that includes these countries." Araji affirmed, according to the statement, that "the Iraqi government is giving wide attention to the issues raised during this initiative within its domestic and foreign policy."
The Independent
12-04-2025
- The Independent
How drug traffickers used foie gras and duck breast to conceal £8m worth of cocaine
Four men have been jailed for attempting to smuggle £8 million worth of cocaine into the UK concealed beneath a cargo of foie gras and duck breast. Michael Keating, 56, his brother Matthew Keating, 49, Tanvir Hussain, 46, and Pierre Labelle, 48, were sentenced at Hove Crown Court on Friday following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA). The elaborate scheme was foiled in November 2019 when Border Force officers stopped their van as it entered Newhaven, East Sussex, from Dieppe. Although the van appeared to be carrying a legitimate shipment of expensive French delicacies, officers discovered 97kg of cocaine hidden beneath a false floor. This sophisticated concealment method highlights the lengths criminal gangs will go to in order to evade detection. Mark Ruff, a senior NCA officer, commended the Border Force officers for their vigilance, stating: "The cover load of foie gras and duck breast is highly unusual and Border Force colleagues did a superb job in seeing through it and the concealed floor." The NCA investigation showed the driver of the van was not involved in the offence. The offenders were traced as part of Operation Venetic, which the NCA launched after the takedown of the encrypted communications platform EncroChat. Michael Keating, of Uxbridge in Middlesex, used the platform to organise the plot and source the drugs through international connections, according to the NCA. Hussain, of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, bought the van along with Labelle, who is from the Isle of Wight. Keating's younger brother Matthew also had an EncroChat phone, and they also used the platform to plan an 80kg importation of ketamine. During a search of Michael Keating's home, officers seized more than £50,000 cash and a notebook that appeared to contain EncroChat handles. He and Hussain were convicted after trial of conspiring to import cocaine at Hove Crown Court in February 2024. Michael Keating was sentenced on Friday to 24 years' imprisonment. Hussain was jailed for 10 years. Labelle admitted conspiracy to import cocaine in October 2023 and was jailed for 17 years. Keating's brother Matthew pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import ketamine in January 2024 and was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison. Mr Ruff said: 'This result demonstrates the determination of NCA officers to bring to justice all those involved in the importation of illegal drugs – whether they sort the logistics, knowingly transport the substances, or benefit financially from the trade. 'In this case, we proved the offenders' links and completely dismantled a crime group.' Mr Ruff added: 'The class A drugs trade fuels violence and misery at every step of its way to the UK. 'We will continue to work alongside partners at home and abroad to right the threat of Class A drugs.'
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
Gangsters tried to disguise cocaine with foie gras and duck breasts
A group of smugglers tried to disguise nearly 100kg of cocaine with foie gras and duck breasts. The four gangsters had installed a false floor in a transit van, which they stashed £9 million worth of cocaine underneath. On top of it, they piled boxes and boxes filled with food items as a cover for the elaborate operation. The van was stopped by Border Force officers as it arrived into Newhaven, East Sussex, from the fishing port of Dieppe, northern France, in November 2019. The plot was foiled when officers grew suspicious about the piles of foie gras and duck breasts inside the vehicle. An investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) found that the scheme had been orchestrated by drug kingpin Michael Keating, 56, of Umbridge in Middlesex, who had sourced the drugs through his international connections with the help of his 49-year-old brother Matthew of Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. Jean-Pierre Labelle, 48, and Tanvir Hussain, 46, who are the owners of the van, were arrested along with the brothers. The van driver was found to be innocent. Michael Keating had used an encrypted messaging app called EncroChat under the online moniker 'Bestrocket' to plan his drug runs, the NCA said. His brother also had an EncroChat phone and used the app to plan an 80kg importation of ketamine. During a search of Michael's home, officers seized more than £50,000 in cash and a notebook that appeared to contain EncroChat handles. Michael and Hussain were convicted of conspiring to import cocaine by a jury at Hove Crown Court in February last year. On Friday, Michael Keating was sentenced to 24 years' imprisonment. Hussain was jailed for 10 years. Labelle admitted to conspiracy to import cocaine in October 2023 and was jailed for 17 years. Matthew Keating pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import ketamine in January last year and was sentenced to seven years and six months. Mark Ruff, the NCA senior officer, said: 'The cover load of foie gras and duck breast is highly unusual, and Border Force colleagues did a superb job in seeing through it and the concealed floor. 'This result demonstrates the determination of NCA officers to bring to justice all those involved in the importation of illegal drugs – whether they sort the logistics, knowingly transport the substances, or benefit financially from the trade. In this case, we proved the offenders' links and completely dismantled a crime group. 'The Class A drugs trade fuels violence and misery at every step of its way to the UK. We will continue to work alongside partners at home and abroad to right the threat of Class A drugs.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
11-04-2025
- Telegraph
Gangsters tried to disguise cocaine with foie gras and duck breasts
A group of smugglers tried to disguise nearly 100kg of cocaine with foie gras and duck breasts. The four gangsters had installed a false floor in a transit van, which they stashed £9 million worth of cocaine underneath. On top of it, they piled boxes and boxes filled with food items as a cover for the elaborate operation. The van was stopped by Border Force officers as it arrived into Newhaven, East Sussex, from the fishing port of Dieppe, northern France, in November 2019. The plot was foiled when officers grew suspicious about the piles of foie gras and duck breasts inside the vehicle. An investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) found that the scheme had been orchestrated by drug kingpin Michael Keating, 56, of Umbridge in Middlesex, who had sourced the drugs through his international connections with the help of his 49-year-old brother Matthew of Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. Jean-Pierre Labelle, 48, and Tanvir Hussain, 46, who are the owners of the van, were arrested along with the brothers. The van driver was found to be innocent. Michael Keating had used an encrypted messaging app called EncroChat under the online moniker 'Bestrocket' to plan his drug runs, the NCA said. His brother also had an EncroChat phone and used the app to plan an 80kg importation of ketamine. During a search of Michael's home, officers seized more than £50,000 in cash and a notebook that appeared to contain EncroChat handles. Michael and Hussain were convicted of conspiring to import cocaine by a jury at Hove Crown Court in February last year. On Friday, Michael Keating was sentenced to 24 years' imprisonment. Hussain was jailed for 10 years. Labelle admitted to conspiracy to import cocaine in October 2023 and was jailed for 17 years. Matthew Keating pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import ketamine in January last year and was sentenced to seven years and six months. Mark Ruff, the NCA senior officer, said: 'The cover load of foie gras and duck breast is highly unusual, and Border Force colleagues did a superb job in seeing through it and the concealed floor. 'This result demonstrates the determination of NCA officers to bring to justice all those involved in the importation of illegal drugs – whether they sort the logistics, knowingly transport the substances, or benefit financially from the trade. In this case, we proved the offenders' links and completely dismantled a crime group. 'The Class A drugs trade fuels violence and misery at every step of its way to the UK. We will continue to work alongside partners at home and abroad to right the threat of Class A drugs.'
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
Smugglers hid £8m of cocaine in foie gras
Four men who imported a haul of cocaine with a street value of about £8m have been jailed. Jean-Pierre Labelle, 48, Tanvir Hussain, 46, Michael Keating, 56, and his brother Matthew Keating, 49, were all sentenced on Friday at Hove Crown Court. The drugs were hidden in foie gras and duck breasts and entered the port of Newhaven, East Sussex, in November 2019 in a transit van. Mark Ruff, National Crime Agency (NCA) senior officer, said: "The cover load of foie gras and duck breast is highly unusual and Border Force colleagues did a superb job in seeing through it." Officers discovered 97 packages of the drug, each weighing about one kilo, in the van which was travelling from Dieppe in France. Michael Keating, of Springwell Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex, was sentenced to 24 years for importing cocaine. He organised the import, sourced the drugs through international connections and used the encrypted communications platform EncroChat to plan his drug runs, the NCA said. During a search of his home, officers said they seized more than £50,000 cash. Labelle, of Ashey Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for importing cocaine, which he admitted in October 2023. Hussain, of Cressex Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for importing cocaine. The pair had bought the van which was used to smuggle the drugs, said the NCA. The Keating brothers also conspired to import 80kg of ketamine, according to the NCA. Matthew Keating, of High Street, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison for conspiracy to import Class B drugs. James Satterly, 50, of Kings Lane, Cookham, in Maidenhead, Berkshire, was charged with importing class A drugs in November 2019 but was found not guilty on 16 February 2024. The NCA said they would continue to work "at home and abroad to right the threat" of drugs. "The Class A drugs trade fuels violence and misery at every step of its way to the UK," added Mr Ruff. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Man charged over £10m of cocaine found in fish van Cocaine worth about £10m found in frozen fish National Crime Agency
