'DIRECTOR' OF DRUGS GANG GETS 25 YEARS

THE mastermind behind a multi-million-pound drugs ring was jailed for 25
years yesterday.

Matthew Glover, 39, was known as the "managing director" of a gang known as
"the firm" which set up an extensive distribution network supplying class A
and B drugs in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Manchester.

Its activities were ended by a 17-month covert operation by the National
Crime Squad which seized drugs valued at UKP1.6 million.

Glover, of Foxstones Lane, Cliviger, Burnley, Lancs, was convicted at
Preston Crown Court of conspiracy to supply ecstasy, amphetamine and
cannabis. The court was told that Glover lived in a UKP250,000 house near
Burnley and his wife once paid UKP6,000 in cash for a holiday.

Ten other members of the gang have been convicted of various conspiracy
charges dating to September 1999. Det Chief Insp John Tyrer, of the
National Crime Squad, said: "This puts an entire major drugs network out of
circulation.

"This gang was dealing in significant quantities of Class A and B drugs as
lucrative business deals. They didn't care for the consequences of flooding
the region with drugs or the lives that might be destroyed through crime
and addiction. They were just out to make money."