A Barnsley businessman has been found guilty of his role in a 'highly sophisticated' drug-trafficking gang.

 

Richard Stead, of Greenfoot Lane, Wilthorpe, denied two charges of conspiracy to supply cocaine, MCat and class B drugs between June 1, 2010 and August 17, 2012 but was convicted on both counts at Sheffield Crown Court today.

 

Stead, 45, was described by prosecutor David Brooke as 'high up the chain' of the criminal outfit, which flooded the country with more than £25m worth of drugs.

 

Mr Brooke said the cocaine was imported into the country from Guadalajara, Mexico, over two years with 1kg discs of cocaine concealed in the hydraulic arms of scissor lifts.

 

Each lift could hold 24 kilos and the prosecution stated some 200 kilos was brought in by the gang during that time.

 

Of the two other men appearing alongside Stead, Frank Babar, 47, of Surrey, was found guilty of conspiracy to evade the prohibition on the importation of cocaine, while Marco Martin Russo, 41, from London, was acquitted of the same charge. Babar was found guilty of a second charge of conspiracy to conceal the proceeds of crime.

 

Both men will be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court in July.