Two jailed after smuggling £25 million worth of cannabis in parcels of rabbit hay

Two used-car salesmen who smuggled at least £25 million of cannabis into the UK hidden among parcels of rabbit hay have been jailed for a total of more than 18 years.

Mark Owens, 58, and Paul Seabrook, 52, were the British end of an international smuggling ring, who used the odour of the animal bedding to disguise the smell of the drugs.

Owens organised for a warehouse in Essex to receive the illicit shipments, while his friend Seabrook, who also worked as a barber, acted as his "right hand man".

Kent Police swooped on a lorry-load of drugs near to the Dartford Crossing in May 2016, seizing a metric ton of cannabis which had originated in The Netherlands.

During the sentencing hearing today at Woolwich crown court, Judge Christopher Kinch QC said the seized cannabis has a street value of more than £10 million.

However it believed at least £15 million more had already successfully been brought into the UK, and the total amount shipped by the drugs ring could be as high as £40 million.

Sentencing Owens to nine-and-a-half years in prison and Seabrook to nine years, the judge said: "This had the hallmarks of a well funded, sophisticated, and highly organised conspiracy, with detailed and careful documentation and false names used."

He said there is "no evidence as to the demand for, or price of, animal feed, but there is evidence that smells.

"Whoever was sending it off from The Netherlands knew it would prove effective in disguising the illegal cargo."

The court heard Owens used his son's business premises in Essex to receive the cannabis shipments in a secure and private premises.

His son and the lorry driver who was stopped in Dartford were put under police investigation but were cleared of any involvement in the drug smuggling plot.

"Mr Owens and Mr Seabrook directed operations on the UK side", said prosecutor Martin Yale.

"Inside the lorry, hidden in rabbit hay, were six packages, with just over £10 million of cannabis. In weight terms it was just short of a metric ton."

He said Owens was a former director of his son's Essex company which was used as a legitimate cover for the drug smuggling operation, while Seabrook had done work for the company.

The rabbit hay parcels were addressed to a fake company name, "barn products", the court heard.

Mr Yale added that Owens and Seabrook had a business selling used cars together, and were known to be close as they went on holiday together to Lanzarote while being watched by police.

When Seabrook was arrested in March 2017, police discovered a bag of cocaine in a Calvin Klein satchel in his kitchen at home.

He also had a rucksack containing MDMA stashed in a cupboard, as well as cutting agent, scales, and bags containing traces of drugs.

Owens remained at large until January this year, when he was arrested during a trip to the pub in Hornchurch with Seabrook.

His barrister, Anna Hamilton-Shield, told the court Owens lives with his parents, he does not own property, and he drives a £3,000 Ford Fiesta.

"He doesn't live the lifestyle of someone at the top tier of offending", she said.

The judge accepted neither men were in the "higher echelons" of the drug ring, and were not enjoying a lavish lifestyle.

But he said they had played a "critical role in the success of the operation".

Seabrook, from Hornchurch, denied but was convicted of conspiracy to supply cannabis. He pleaded guilty to charges of possession with intent to supply cocaine and MDMA.

Owens, of Claxton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Three other men were charged over the drug smuggling operation but acquitted at trial.