BANANA GANG JAILED OVER DRUG DEALS

SEVEN men who smuggled drugs valued at #15 million into Britain by hiding
them among lorry-loads of bananas were given jail sentences of between 18
and 23 years yesterday.

During an eight-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court, a jury was told that
the gang was arrested while having a celebratory drink in a pub in West
Derby. Drugs recovered included 350,000 ecstasy tablets, 10kg of cocaine,
3kg of heroin, 91kg of amphetamines and 25kg of cannabis resin.

Phillip Brown, 40, gang leader, of Oxton, Wirral, was jailed for 23 years
and Michael Melia, 33, of Micklehead Farm, St Helens, for 21 years. Gary
Hunter, 29, of Tonbridge, Kent, who ran a haulier's business, was given 21
years and Charles Hoskins, 59, of Basingstoke, Hants, 19 years. Mark Riley,
28, of West Derby, and Melvin Radford, 35, of Burnley, were each given 19
years. The seventh, Joseph Noon, 30, of Childwall, Liverpool, received 18
years.