Michael Daly, 49, is already serving eight years in jail for a similar conspiracy

Michael Daly, 49, is already serving eight years in jail for a similar conspiracy. Daly, who admitted playing a key role in the plot, was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court in London. Alan Wells, 56, of Blenheim Road, Sidcup, who admitted his part in the conspiracy, was jailed for 15 years. Daly used skills and knowledge gained while working as a Metropolitan Police (Met) drug squad detective to smuggle 1,500kg (3,300lbs) of cocaine into the Irish Republic. The cocaine was of 75% purity with a street value of £235m. He was in overall charge of the logistics and also had local knowledge to plan the operation, as his family lived on the coast in the Irish Republic. Wells was paid £100,000 for his role in helping Daly to organise the logistics. Daly and the gang were foiled when their boat ran out of fuel in rough seas and was shipwrecked off the Irish coast on 2 July 2007. Three other men – Perry Wharrie, Martin Wanden and Joe Daly – were convicted in Cork, the Irish Republic. A fourth man, Gerard Hagan, was jailed after pleading guilty to being involved in the plot.
Det Insp Grant Johnson, from the Metropolitan Police Serious and Organised Crime Command, said: “Daly, one of the key ringleaders, was an ex-Met detective, who, once leaving the service, clearly abused the knowledge and skills he gained as a police officer for criminal gain.” Daly’s 22-year sentence will run consecutively with the eight year sentence he is already serving.