Trio jailed for import of drugs worth millions in Widnes in mattresses

A consignment of 334kg of cannabis was imported from Canada to Widnes via Liverpool’s docks in January this year.

This then arrived at a storage unit at The Storage Team in Widnes by HGV on January 15.

A vast amount of cannabis had been hidden in mattresses, in bed frames housed in a shipping container.

It was found that eight bed frames contained 668 sealed packages of cannabis weighing a total of 334kg, with more than £2million worth of the class B controlled drug imported.

Weiji Chen, aged 29 and of Birchfield Road in Liverpool, was responsible for arranging for the cannabis to be imported into the UK from Canada, so this could be supplied on at a profit.

One of Chen’s regular buyers, John Kinsella, aged 34 and of St Julien Drive in Liverpool, wanted a part of the imported cannabis to supply it to others.

Luke Kinsella, aged 23 and of no fixed abode, was also keen to assist his brother and Chen with unloading the imported cannabis, so they could supply the high-grade strain to others.

The mattresses containing drugs that were imported to Widnes (Image: CPS)

The conspiracy started in September 2023, when a number of ‘test runs’ arranged by Chen and John Kinsella were carried out, prior to the larger January importation.

These importations were of a much smaller scale and were sent direct from Canada into the UK using the postal service.

The lorry with the drugs arrived at The Storage Team around 9am, and Chen directed the lorry into the car park.

The packages were unloaded and the men went into the building.

However, shortly after, Cheshire Police officers entered the facility, and all present were arrested.

Chen and John Kinsella were subsequently charged with and admitted to offences of importing and supplying cannabis between September 2023 and January 2024.

Luke Kinsella meanwhile pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

Packages of drugs that were imported to Widnes (Image: CPS)

All three appeared before Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, Tuesday, where Chen was jailed for seven years.

John Kinsella was locked up for six years and six months, while his brother Luke was incarcerated for four years.

The sentences handed down by the court were welcomed by Olivia Cristinacce-Travis, senior crown prosecutor from the Crown Prosecution Service’s Cheshire complex casework unit.

She said: “Over a few months, Chen and John Kinsella were involved in the importation of cannabis into Liverpool docks on an industrial scale, valued at more than £2million.

“The two men and Luke Kinsella had planned on supplying high-strain cannabis across the north west region.

“Due to the sophisticated nature of the importation, this was a complex prosecution in which the CPS successfully worked with Cheshire Police to build a strong case against each of the men.

“All entered guilty pleas and have now been jailed for a total of 17-and-a-half years.

“Illegal drugs bring misery to communities, and the Crown Prosecution Service works with the police to bring those responsible for importing and supplying them to justice.”