Eddie wales/Burtonburton-wales/”>Burton, 23, from england/england/liverpool/”>liverpool/”>Liverpool, has been slammed with a hefty 19-year jail term after running a colossal £20million international drug smuggling ring. The operation, which nearly flooded the UK with heroin, cocaine, and ketamine, was busted after a daring attempt to import a massive haul was foiled.
He pleaded guilty in Canterbury Crown Court on Friday to four charges of importing Class A and B drugs.
Glamorous ‘Gangster Moll’ Ex-Girlfriend Also Jailed
Burton’s ex, Sian Banks, 25, also from Liverpool, was previously locked up for five years in February. She admitted to seven charges, including importing Class A drugs and laundering money. The pair masterminded the deadly drugs operation together, with Banks playing a crucial role in laundering cash and coordinating shipments.
Massive Drug Haul Seized at Dover Port
The National Crime Agency (NCA) cracked down after two lorries stuffed with 307 kilos of drugs were intercepted in 2022. The first lorry, stopped on July 3, was carrying 90 kilos of ketamine and 50 kilos of cocaine hidden in boxes and even a Lidl bag.
Just six weeks later, another lorry was caught carrying 142 kilos of cocaine and 25 kilos of heroin concealed inside a modified fuel tank. The driver, 64-year-old Latvian Maris Fridvalds, was handed 14 years for acting as a courier.
Burton’s fingerprints and DNA were found on both shipments and the altered fuel tank, triggering a Europe-wide manhunt.
Caught Red-Handed in Ibiza’s Pacha Nightclub
Living under an alias between the Netherlands and Spain, Burton was finally arrested in August 2023 at the famous Pacha nightclub in Ibiza for unrelated drug offences. He was extradited to Germany, charged, then brought back to the UK in March 2024.
Banks was arrested in December 2023, with phone investigations revealing she personally smuggled drugs in her luggage on two occasions in 2022 after visiting Burton in Amsterdam.
From Schoolyard Street Dealer to International Drug Lord
Burton’s criminal roots go way back. He started dealing drugs at just ten years old, serving as a runner for bigger dealers thanks to his youthful looks. Friends and family describe him as a ‘tearaway’ who was involved in serious crime from a young age.
His glamorous partner, Banks, was drawn into the crime world by a love for luxury holidays and designer goods. Sources close to her describe a woman who thrived on nightclubs, festivals, and The Highthe high life—the perfect partner for an aspiring drug kingpin.
Impact on Communities
NCA Senior Investigating Officer John Turner warned: “Burton, with Banks’ help, attempted to smuggle huge quantities of harmful drugs into the UK, believing he could operate with impunity overseas. The drugs, had they reached their final destination, would have had a destructive impact on our communities, fuelling violence and exploiting vulnerable people throughout the supply chain.”
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