Ian Whitehurst successfully prosecutes multi-handed drugs conspiracy

June 25, 2018

Ian Whitehurst from Exchange Chambers has successfully prosecuted a multi-handed drugs conspiracy for the Crown Prosecution Service’s Manchester Complex Crime Unit.

In total, seven defendants were convicted after two trials involving four conspiracies and substantial custodial sentences were imposed.

The first trial involved conspiracy to convey prohibited articles – drugs and mobile phones – into HMP Forest Bank. The defendants were also convicted of money laundering the proceeds of smuggling the items into the prison via the use of drones.

The second trial involved conspiracies to import and supply Class B drugs from Spain into the UK and then throughout the North West.

The case concerned extensive telephony and banking evidence as well as covert surveillance evidence deployed by the police during an extensive investigation into an organised crime group based in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.

Ian is a criminal and regulatory barrister with 24 years of experience at the criminal bar. He is recognised as a leading individual in the fields of crime and financial crime in Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500. He has extensive experience of defending all types of serious crime including homicide and serious sexual offences. He also prosecutes and defends serious organised crime such as gang related homicide, large scale drugs and firearms conspiracies, corruption cases and armed robberies.

Ian Whitehurst is member of the criminal team at Exchange Chambers.