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Ramsgate man Paul King jailed after drugs factory found in Margate

00:00, 26 February 2015

updated: 15:39, 26 February 2015

Police called to a possible break in at a Margate industrial estate discovered a multi-million pound drugs factory.

And the boss of Big Transport left officers an even bigger clue to who was behind the amphetamine haul - his business card.

Now the boss, Paul King has been jailed for eight years for dealing in amphetamines at his unit in Westwood Industrial Estate in Continental Approach.

Paul King
Paul King

Canterbury Crown Court heard how in November 2012 police received an anonymous tip that men had been spotted breaking into a unit.

Shortly after 11pm, PC Howe noted a chain link fence to the business park had been rolled back and on the other side he discovered a large vacuum sealed bag containing a white powder.

King, 38, of Ellingham Road, Ramsgate had denied the offence but was convicted by a jury of possession of the drug intending to supply it after hearing how police had gone to his business unit at A4B.

There they saw a fire door had been forced open, and next to a trailer with a jet ski, sachets of suntan and aftersun lotions inside they unearthed more vacuum packs of drugs.

Prosecutor Iestyn Morgan told the court heard that a box of King’s business cards with the title Big Transport Ltd and King’s telephone numbers was found.

Officers then went to King’s home, which was then at Swinburne Avenue, where they told him the offices had been burgled.

King responded: “Have they taken my jet ski?”

Judge Nigel Van Der Bijl. Picture: Chris Davey
Judge Nigel Van Der Bijl. Picture: Chris Davey

The businessman then made an excuse to go to the toilet but was followed by officers who heard him dismantling his mobile phone.

He was arrested but answered “no comment” to all the police questions, said Mr Morgan.

A financial examination of Big Transport accounts revealed the unit had been rented in July 2012 and cash sums of between £1,500 to £3,000 were paid into his bank account in July and August.

Judge Nigel Van Der Bijl heard that 93kgs of amphetamine were seized from the unit with a street value of more than £8m.

The case was heard at Canterbury Crown Court
The case was heard at Canterbury Crown Court

Stephen Willmer, defending, said that Big Transport had not been a front for the drugs operation.

He asked the judge to “extend a degree of mercy” in sentencing King, who he claimed was “not a repeat offender” and had been caring for a large family.

The judge praised King for returning to court after his conviction “knowing you faced a prison sentence which has to be a long one”.

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