Martin Kerfoot was sentenced yesterday after being found guilty of importing 3.5 tonnes of cannabis resin as part of an international drugs smuggling

Martin Kerfoot (41), of Seacliff Road, Bangor, was sentenced yesterday after being found guilty of importing 3.5 tonnes of cannabis resin as part of an international drugs smuggling ring. — director of a transport and storage company based in an industrial estate in the Quarry Heights area of Newtownards — was caught in his business premises by the PSNI with a lorry-load of the Class C drug on October 10, 2006. The drugs — the largest ever seizure of cannabis in Northern Ireland, with an estimated street value of up to £13m — were brought into the country in hollowed-out wooden doors which were stacked into pallets, loaded into a lorry and imported from Spain. When police stormed Kerfoot's business premises they found the drugs were in the process of being unloaded from the lorry into a rental van and a company vehicle. A co-accused, Stephen James McGivern (32) of Oak Crescent, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, was yesterday jailed for seven years for his part in the lucrative drugs enterprise. It is understood he acted as a courier and had been caught by police and Customs officers loading over a dozen bales into a rental van. Sentencing the pair at Belfast Crown Court yesterday, Mr Justice McLaughlin, said it is "quite clear" that what was found was "the culmination of a criminal enterprise that must have been massive". He added that the drugs, believed to come from Morocco, were picked up in Spain and driven up through Europe into England, then by ferry to Dublin before going to Northern Ireland. He said he had no doubt Kerfoot was fully involved in the importation of the drugs, even though he had "attempted to put forward to the jury a sense that he was operating under duress". Mr Justice McLaughlin said that given the complexity of the drug smuggling scheme, it would be "amazing" if there was no paramilitary involvement in the background. He added while he also accepted Kerfoot was " not the mastermind, the instigator or the financier", he was " totally satisfied you were an essential cog", and had made his expertise and the cover of his company available "to criminal forces" . Following yesterday's sentencing, Detective Inspector Andrew Dunlop of the PSNI's Drug Squad, said the investigation concerning the criminals behind the importation is still ongoing and revealed that the PSNI is in contact with the Spanish authorities who are assisting in the inquiry.He said that the sentences "send a clear message to anyone involved in or are contemplating becoming involved in the unlawful importation, supply and distribution of controlled drug". John Whiting, Assistant Director Criminal Investigation, HMRC said: " HMRC are determined to work closely with the police and other law enforcement agencies to protect the public from the significant and damaging effect drugs have on our communities." Policing and Justice Minister Paul Goggins said: "The message to those involved in the trade of illegal drugs is clear, you will be caught and you will pay for your crime. This is an excellent outcome to months of joint operations between the PSNI and HMRC and I commend the work of everyone in the law enforcement agencies involved."