Drug Importation Conspiracy – Empty Gas Canisters, EncroChat Evidence and the Serious Sentencing Risks

Recent Case Highlights Seriousness of High Stake Drugs Crimes

Organised drug importation prosecutions in the UK are increasingly built around encrypted communications, international coordination and complex conspiracy allegations.

A recent case reported in the North East illustrates how even some of the seemingly most sophisticated concealment methods – including cocaine hidden inside empty gas canisters – can still be detected, investigated and prosecuted with significant consequences for those involved.

From a criminal defence perspective, cases of this nature tend to move quickly once arrests are made, and they often involve extensive disclosure, specialist evidence and multiple defendants.

Cases of this nature are extremely complex and the implications are far-reaching.

What happened in the North East cocaine plot?

Andrew Doran, 42, originally from the Kirkby area of Merseyside, admitted his role in a conspiracy to import cocaine into the UK.

He was extradited to the UK after being arrested by Spanish police in southern Spain, following an appeal by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

In court, it was outlined that the conspiracy involved cocaine being smuggled from the Netherlands into the UK concealed inside gas canisters.

The containers were allegedly cut open, filled, welded shut and repainted to disguise tampering.

The importations were linked to communications on EncroChat, the encrypted platform that has featured heavily in serious organised crime investigations in recent years.

Doran was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced in February 2026.

How serious is drug importation in UK law?

Importing Class A drugs – including cocaine – is treated as one of the most serious offences in the criminal courts.

The courts consider not only the quantity involved, but also the defendant’s role, the level of planning and whether the conduct formed part of an organised criminal enterprise.

In many cases, the prosecution will pursue charges such as conspiracy to import drugs, which can significantly widen the net.

It can mean defendants face allegations based on their alleged involvement in planning, coordination, funding or logistics – even if they were not physically present when drugs crossed the border.

In such cases, sentences can be extremely severe.

Where large quantities are involved, lengthy custody is a real risk, and the court may also consider the wider harm linked to Class A supply, including violence, exploitation and community impact.

Why concealment methods do not reduce the risk

Smuggling methods are often described as increasingly sophisticated – hidden compartments, altered containers, disguised packaging and multi-stage transport routes.

However, sophistication does not reduce the seriousness of the allegation. In practice, it can sometimes increase it, because it may be used by the prosecution to demonstrate planning, professional criminality and a leading role within the conspiracy.

Whether drugs are concealed in vehicles, commercial loads or gas canisters, the legal issue remains the same: if the prosecution can prove involvement in the importation process, the consequences can be life-changing.

EncroChat evidence: a key battleground in complex drug cases

Many modern drug trafficking prosecutions rely heavily on encrypted communications evidence.

EncroChat cases are often document-heavy and technically complex, involving:

• Attribution – whether the prosecution can reliably link a device and handle to a defendant
• Interpretation – what messages mean in context, including coded language
• Role – whether communications show leadership, direction, finance or logistics
• Corroboration – how digital evidence is supported by surveillance, cell site data or financial material

Defence preparation in these cases frequently involves careful analysis of disclosure and a strategic approach to the prosecution narrative.

It is not unusual for defendants to face allegations that overstate their role, particularly where messages are ambiguous or where multiple people may have access to a device.

Extradition, international links and why these cases escalate quickly

This case also highlights how organised crime investigations frequently cross borders.

Where suspects are arrested abroad and returned to the UK, the evidence may involve coordination between agencies and international material.

That can create additional complexity for defence teams, particularly around the timeline of the alleged offences, continuity of evidence and the handling of digital exhibits.

For defendants, extradition and international cooperation can also signal that the authorities consider the investigation high priority – and that serious sentencing submissions are likely on conviction.

Sentencing considerations and why outcomes can vary

Even within large-scale conspiracies, sentencing outcomes can differ significantly depending on the facts.

Courts will look closely at matters such as:

• The defendant’s alleged role (leading, significant or lesser)
• Quantity and frequency of importations
• Evidence of direction, organisation or instruction of others
• Any previous convictions or relevant offending history
• Personal mitigation, including health, vulnerability and background factors
• The timing and basis of any guilty plea

A guilty plea can reduce sentence, but the earlier it is entered, the greater the potential reduction.

However, early advice is crucial, because defendants should understand the strength of the evidence, the likely sentence range and whether any legal issues arise from the prosecution case.

Why early legal advice matters in drug conspiracy investigations

Drug importation allegations are not the type of charge to “wait and see” on. Decisions made at the police station stage can shape the entire case – including interviews, bail conditions, digital device handling and the direction of the investigation.

If you are arrested or asked to attend a voluntary interview in connection with a drug conspiracy, you should seek specialist criminal defence advice immediately.

Early representation can help ensure your position is properly protected from the outset, and that the case is approached strategically as the evidence develops.

Only Sufficiently Experienced Legal Representation Will Suffice

Where the prosecution alleges large-scale importation of Class A drugs, the stakes are high.

Even where concealment methods appear sophisticated, law enforcement agencies increasingly rely on intelligence-led operations and digital evidence to identify networks and bring charges.

For anyone caught up in an investigation of this kind, the consequences go far beyond the headlines.

The outcome can affect liberty, employment, immigration status, family life and financial stability.

The earlier a defence team can become involved, the more effectively the case can be prepared.

How We Can Help.

We are an award-winning team of experts in providing legal representation in serious drug offences – it is imperative you seek legal representation at the earliest opportunity. Call us now on 0161 477 1121 or email us.