Drug Dealer Leaves Van Packed with £1.1 Million Worth of Drugs to Go Drinking, Then Sends Messages That Expose the Gang

Paul Green, known as “The Big Fella,” ran a £7 billion drug empire that fell apart because his gang made big mistakes, like a truck driver reporting suspicious goods, leaving a van with drugs unguarded while drinking, and sending careless messages that exposed their plans.

Green, 59, was arrested at his home in Widnes, Cheshire, where he had been operating as the leader of an 18-member gang. This group smuggled huge amounts of drugs, including heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabis, into the UK. Green was the main link between various organized crime groups (OCGs), who paid him to bring drugs into the country.



The gang used clever tricks to hide their activities. They packed drugs inside shipments of onions, garlic, and ginger to disguise the smell and make it harder for authorities to detect. Innocent transport companies were hired to carry these shipments from the Netherlands to the UK, unaware that they were being used for smuggling.

The gang bought so many onions—up to 50 tonnes a week—that they couldn’t use them all. They often sent the unused onions back to the Netherlands to use as cover for future shipments.



The operation started falling apart in 2016 when a Dutch truck driver became suspicious of a shipment he was asked to transport. Instead of delivering it, he returned to his depot and called the police. Officers discovered 8 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside the load.

Later that year, the gang attempted to smuggle 57 kilograms of amphetamines, worth around £1.1 million. Dutch authorities had already placed the group under surveillance and were monitoring their phone calls.

One major mistake occurred when Russell Leonard, a key member of the gang, left a van full of drugs unattended in Amsterdam while he and an accomplice went on a drinking spree. When they returned the next morning, Dutch police stopped the van and arrested them. Leonard was later sentenced to 24 years in prison.



The gang smuggled drugs on an industrial scale, organizing up to four shipments every week. Despite arrests and drug seizures, they continued their operations, quickly switching to new companies whenever one was exposed.

One of their customers was John Kinsella, a well-known enforcer from Merseyside. Kinsella was later shot and killed in 2018 while walking his dogs.

Investigators found messages on Green’s encrypted phone, where he used the code name “Duckfarmer.” These messages detailed how he planned drug shipments and coordinated with accomplices.



In court, Judge Paul Lawton said the gang’s activities caused enormous harm, spreading addiction, misery, and social problems. Paul Green was sentenced to 32 years in prison. His second-in-command, Steven Martin, received 28 years, and another senior member, Muhammad Ovais, was jailed for 27 years. Several other gang members, including Dutch associates Johannes Vesters and Barbara Rijnbout, also received long sentences.



The National Crime Agency (NCA) called this gang one of the most harmful criminal groups ever seen. They used every possible trick to avoid being caught, including cloning businesses and stealing identities. Despite their efforts, the NCA, working closely with Dutch authorities, was able to gather enough evidence to dismantle the operation.

Richard Harrison, an NCA official, described the investigation as thorough and determined. He praised the efforts of both UK and Dutch officers, who left no stone unturned in uncovering the gang’s crimes.

This case highlights the devastating effects of large-scale drug smuggling and the relentless work needed to bring criminals to justice.