Jail for man ferrying £800,000 in drugs

The commitment to the public came today, Monday, November 25, when detectives acknowledged the jail term imposed on the 34-year-old leader of an organised crime group in Londonderry after he was caught red-handed with £800,000 worth of cannabis in the city last year.

Mark McPhillips, of Elmvale, pleaded guilty to having £800,000 worth of cannabis, possession of other drugs, importing drugs and money laundering. He was sentenced to seven years today, Monday 25 November. Three and a half years will be in jail, the remainder on licence.

McPhillips was stopped by police in the Glengalliagh area of Derry in May last year. He was driving a hire van carrying kitchen units. When police examined the units, they found bags of herbal cannabis worth £800,000 which had been imported from Holland.

Detective Superintendent Andrea McMullan, from Organised Crime Branch, said: “This was a proactive operation against an Organised Crime Group involved in the importation and distribution of large quantities of controlled drugs into Northern Ireland and the Republic from Holland.

“While it is unusual for the leader of a crime group to personally move such a quantity of drugs, we believe Mark McPhillips took a chance on this occasion and has paid the price.

“The price amounts to more than a prison sentence. Following an extensive financial investigation, we believe McPhillips has benefitted substantially from the supply of controlled drugs. These proceeds of crime will now be the subject of confiscation proceedings.

“We view this as a very significant detection which was the result of good police work. The community should be assured that we will take every available, lawful opportunity to apprehend criminals involved in illegal drugs. We will work with individuals, communities and partners to bring offenders before the courts where they will be dealt with as the criminal justice system deems appropriate.

“The people of Derry and further afield are safer today thanks to this prison sentence. I would urge everyone to continue to work with us to identify and locate those criminals who make financial gain through other people’s misery. We will act on the information promptly and in a way which acts as a deterrent, not a death sentence.”