Three Men Sentenced After Drugs Raid
14 April 2011, 16:12 | Updated: 14 April 2011, 16:16
Three men have been sentenced today (April 14) at St Albans Crown Court to a total of over 15 years in prison following the discovery over nine kilos of cannabis, two firearms and ammunition at a garage in Apsley, Hemel Hempstead in May 2010.
Officers from the RAID Team based at headquarters made the discovery following the execution of a warrant at Apsley Auto Care in London Road on May 20. The cannabis, which was vacuum sealed, was found in the back room of the premises locked in a large black security box.
The firearms and ammunition were found in a side panel of a tyre fitting machine. One of the firearms is a fully functional .22 handgun. The other handgun is a .22 deactivated handgun. The ammunition was 200 hollow point bullets and 41 9mm bullets. Officers also discovered scales, a vacuum sealer and unused vacuum seal bags were found.
Daniel White, aged 33 of Speddale, Hemel Hempstead, was arrested the following day at Watford police station. Officers identified 30 year old Wesley Crane of Puller Road, Hemel Hempstead, and Steven Roberts, who is 60 years old and from Pudding Lane in Hemel Hempstead, as suspects and they were arrested in July, 2010.
The men were convicted of the following offences:
- Daniel White was convicted of conspiracy to supply class B drugs, possession of prohibited firearm, possession of expanding ammunition and possession of ammunition without a certificate namely forty one 9mm cartridges. He was sentenced to 10 and half years.
- Wesley Crane was convicted of conspiracy to supply class B drugs. He was sentenced to one year eight months.
- Steven Roberts was convicted of conspiracy to supply class B drugs. He was sentenced to three years.
PC Dave Skarratts from RAID said: “I am pleased these men have been given prison sentences which reflect the seriousness of their crimes. Drugs and firearms have a devastating affect on our communities and our investigations have prevented a large quantity of drugs reaching the streets not only in Hertfordshire but in other counties. Drug dealers should not be allowed to operate and we will work with our communities to ensure they don’t get chance to in Hertfordshire. I hope this serves as a warning to others that your crimes will not be tolerated and we will use every power we have to bring you before the courts.”