Giant backyard operation
An 80-year-old UK man used lottery winnings to help start a counterfeit drugs empire worth up to £288m ($396m). John Spiby, who won a £2.4m ($3.3m) jackpot in 2010, allegedly made changes to a cottage behind his home in rural Wigan and bought machinery for creating counterfeit drugs with his winnings. The operation could produce tens of thousands of tablets per hour.
Spiby tried to disguise his activities by setting up a fake company
Spiby also bought an industrial unit to expand capacity and rented a shipping container to store materials and tablets. Spiby tried to disguise his activities by setting up a fake company that advertised packaging machines, mixers, tablet presses, and powder supplements. Three other men, including Spiby’s son, received jail time for various offenses.
Taking down the group
The criminal group allegedly produced millions of tablets they pawned off as Diazepam. Prosecutors estimated that the street value totaled as high as £288m ($396m). Also known by the brand name Valium, the drug is used to calm a person’s nervous system.
Judge Nicholas Clarke said at one point in the case that he believes the police managed to shut down “the largest production of drugs of this nature” in UK history.
intercepted the vehicle and found 2.6 million tablets
During an operation on April 1, 2022, officers observed two co-defendants placing boxes into a van. They intercepted the vehicle and found 2.6 million tablets. Subsequent searches led to the seizure of more drugs, as well as cash and three viable firearms.
Unsuccessful defense
While Spiby denied knowing about the illegal operations, he was found guilty on a raft of charges in the Bolton Crown Court and sentenced to a 16-year, six-month prison term. Most of the charges included conspiracy to produce and supply Class C drugs and possession of firearms.
During Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, Judge Clarke said to the alleged ringleader, “Despite your lottery win you continued to live a life of crime beyond what would normally have been your retirement years.”
Spiby’s legal team tried denying that he was the kingpin, citing messages from co-defendant Callum Dorian, which said the “guy whose gaff we use is a millionaire.” They also tried justifying the possession of revolvers by saying that they were from World War One.
