Yahoo News 40-year-old woman sentenced after £3.3m of cannabis seized in Belfast and Heathrow airport
A 40-year-old woman who has been deemed a significant member of an organised crime group has been sentenced after £3.3million of cannabis was seized in Belfast and Heathrow Airport.
Yingle Jiang was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court on Friday, June 28, after pleading guilty to posession with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of Class B controlled drugs, removing and attempting to remove criminal property, and also encouraging or assisting offences under the Serious Crime Act.
It comes after Jiang was identified as a significant member of an organised crime group behind a number or large drug and cash transactions.
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In May 2020, police seized £50,000 in Belfast that had been concealed in a rice cooker, with officers from West Midlands Police seizing £50,000 from a rice cooker that originated in Belfast in Birmingham.
One month later in June, a pallet of music speakers containing cannabis with a potential street value of £1.4million was seized in Heathrow Airport which was due to be delivered to an address in East Belfast.
In July of the same year, £1.9m of cannabis was seized at a property in East Belfast that had been sent from Birmingham concealed in music speakers with two people being arrested at the scene.
In August 2020, further cannabis and cash was seized following searches of three properties in South and East Belfast, with Jiang and a man being arrested.
Commenting, Detective Inspector Kelly from the Police Service’s Organised Crime Unit said: “Jiang was identified as a significant member of an organised crime gang behind a number of large cash and drug transactions.
“In May 2020, £50,000 was recovered in Belfast concealed within a rice cooker, while a further £50,000 was seized by officers from West Midlands Police in Birmingham, also concealed within a rice cooker, originating from Belfast.
“Then in June of the same year a pallet of music speakers containing cannabis with a potential street value of £1.4 million was intercepted in Heathrow Airport destined for an address in east Belfast.
“In July 2020 cannabis with a potential street value of £1.9million was recovered from a house in east Belfast.
“The drugs were sent from Birmingham and concealed within speakers - two people were arrested at that location.
“A month later, detectives conducted searches of three properties in south and east Belfast, and located a further quantity of cannabis and a large amount of cash. Jiang and another man were arrested on that occasion.”
Detective Inspector Kelly continued: “Today’s sentencing demonstrates our ongoing commitment to prevent the supply of illegal drugs and to prosecute those criminals involved in the supply of illegal drugs.
“Detectives worked tirelessly to detect this criminality and identify those involved – subsequently bringing a full evidential package before the court.
“These drugs would have made their way to other criminal gangs across Northern Ireland and, by the onward supply and profiteering, increased their grip on the community.
“Drug gangs prey on the most vulnerable members of our communities with the sole aim of maintaining their lifestyle and status.
"Information from the public is crucial in helping us tackle the scourge of drugs and removing those who supply drugs from our streets.
"Information can be given directly to police by calling 101 or online at http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/
"Alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org."
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